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Taxing times Almost all motorists have to pay tax. As part of his Summer Budget, George Osborne unveiled a raft of changes and reforms to the Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) system. The new system will controversially limit the tax breaks currently available to buyers of low‑emission vehicles.

The changes have sparked debate from the industry. With all new cars registered after 1 April 2017 classed in one of three VED bands, an average flat rate of £140 will apply to most cars, except in the first year when tax will remain linked to the CO2 emissions the car produces.

The theory behind the changes is that zero‑emission vehicles will be tax-free and that the most expensive cars will pay more. The standard £140 charge will also be paid into the Roads Fund from 2020-2021.

Industry commentators state that the take-up of low-emission vehicles may be affected, with buyers choosing to buy higher-emitting cars as they will cost the same to tax as a lower-emitting one once that first year as passed.

Whatever the reason for the changes, they raise questions about how fleet buyers will make purchasing decisions in the future. Find out more on page 19.

The pressure on fuel costs is another big challenge which fleet managers face, and as summer unequivocally and inevitably marches on, our thoughts turn to GreenFleet Arrive ‘n’ Drive 2015 sponsored by RAC Business Solutions. Once again, Rockingham Motor Speedway in Corby, Northants is the place to learn about the new technologies available to green your fleet and get your hands the latest low and ultra-low emission fleet vehicles.

Read our event preview which starts on page 37, and we’ll see you there on 24 September.

Richard Gooding, acting editor

P ONLINE P IN PRINT P MOBILE P FACE-TO-FACE If you would like to receive 10 issues of GreenFleet magazine for £200 a year, please contact Public Sector Information Limited, 226 High Road, Loughton, Essex IG10 1ET. Tel: 020 8532 0055 GreenFleet® would like to thank the following organisations for their support:

PUBLISHED BY PUBLIC SECTOR INFORMATION LIMITED

226 High Rd, Loughton, Essex IG10 1ET. Tel: 020 8532 0055 Fax: 020 8532 0066 Web: www.psi-media.co.uk ACTING EDITOR Richard Gooding EDITOR Angela Pisanu ASSISTANT EDITOR Michael Lyons EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Tommy Newell PRODUCTION CONTROL Jacqueline Lawford, Jo Golding WEB PRODUCTION Reiss Malone EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Danny Wright PUBLISHER Martin Freedman ACCOUNT MANAGER Kylie Glover ADMINISTRATION Victoria Leftwich, Vickie Hopkins REPRODUCTION & PRINT Argent Media

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Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

3

DISCOVER

THE LEADERS FOR WHOLE LIFE CO ST 2

Meet the Best in Class. New Corsa, New Astra and Insignia are beating the competition hands down in terms of Whole Life Costs* and Benefit-in-Kind† tax for company car drivers, thanks to low P11D prices and CO2 emissions from just 82g/km.

Be part of the winning team.

NEW CORSA best in class

NEW ASTRA best in class

INSIGNIA

Whole Life Costs Save up to £1,370* Benefit-in-Kind Save up to £243†

Whole Life Costs Save up to £4,167* Benefit-in-Kind Save up to £929†

Whole Life Costs Save up to £3,340* Benefit-in-Kind Save up to £1,103†

VAUXHALL FLEET Visit www.vauxhall.co.uk/fleet

best in class

Book your FREE** 3 Day Test Drive at www.vauxhallfleet.co.uk/testdrive or call 0870 240 4848

Official Government Test Environmental Data. Fuel consumption figures mpg (litres/100km) and CO2 emissions (g/km). Vauxhall range: Urban 25.9 (10.9)-83.1 (3.4), Extra-urban 45.6 (6.2)-94.2 (3.0), Combined 35.8 (7.9)-91.2 (3.1). CO2 emissions 186-82g/km.

Claim is based upon comparison against the top four best-selling cars within the true fleet segment for each model (June YTD).

Official EU-regulated test data are provided for comparison purposes and actual performance will depend on driving style, road conditions and other non-technical factors. * = Whole Life Cost saving calculated using independently supplied data by CAP over 3 years/60,000 miles (July 2015). Fuel costs based upon combined fuel consumption and diesel charged at £1.21 per litre. Maximum Whole Life Cost savings shown are comparing the following vehicles: New Corsa Design 5dr 1.3CDTi 95PS 89g/km vs. Ford Fiesta Style 5dr Hatchback 1.5TDCi ECOnetic 95PS 82g/km. New Astra Design Hatchback 1.6CDTi 110PS 82g vs. VW Golf S 5dr Hatchback 1.6TDI 110PS 99g/km. Insignia Design 1.6CDTi 136PS 99g/km vs. Mazda 6 SE 2.2d 150PS 107g/km. † = 2015-16 tax year.

Benefit-in-kind tax is calculated assuming a 40% tax rate. Maximum Benefit-in-Kind tax savings shown are comparing the following vehicles: New Corsa Design 5dr 1.3CDTi 95PS 89g/km vs. Ford Fiesta Style 5dr Hatchback 1.5TDCi ECOnetic 95PS 82g/km.

New Astra Design Hatchback 1.6CDTi 110PS 82g vs. VW Golf S 5dr Hatchback 1.6TDI 110PS 99g/km. Insignia Design 1.6CDTi 136PS 99g/km vs. VW Passat S 1.6 TDI 120PS 106g/km. General Motors UK Limited, trading as Vauxhall Motors, does not offer tax advice and recommends that all Company Car Drivers consult their own accountant with regards to their particular tax position. ** = Terms and conditions apply and vehicles are subject to availability. Please call 0870 240 4848 for full details. All figures quoted correct at time of going to press (July 2015). The vehicles illustrated may not necessarily represent the correct final UK specification and not all the features or options described are available on every model.

Contents

Contents GreenFleet 86 09 News

33 Mobile technology

14 Down the road

35 Road safety

GreenFleet takes a look at the latest models soon to arrive on the market in the world of environmentally-friendly vehicles; including the Škoda Superb and the Fiat 500

Rachel Campbell, of Sheldon Davidson Solicitors, writes a short guide to help managers prevent future blame and costly claims being made against their company

19 Tax bands

37 Arrive ’n’ Drive

GreenFleet analyses the government’s latest vehicle excise duty tax band changes and what effect they may have on fleet managers

GreenFleet previews Arrive ’n’ Drive 2015, where drivers can experience the latest vehicles and solutions that help to run a more efficient transport operation

20 Air quality

43 Fuel cards

23 Commercial vehicles

48 Road test: Vauxhall Corsa

2015 EV registrations soar compared to 2014 total; Norway tops global EV sales; and the price of diesel cheaper than petrol

09 14

Following new research showing the number of premature deaths caused by the London’s air quality, GreenFleet examines plans to improve air quality in the capital The LowCVP has launched a Low Emission Van Guide, giving advice to fleet managers on choosing the most suitable vehicle, and one or two case studies

26 Fleet interview 20

GreenFleet talks to the London Fire Brigade to find out about its commitment to reducing carbon emissions, and its increasing charge point network

29 Alternative fuels

The UK’s largest CNG filling station set to open; Industry network launched to maximise natural gas potential; and Blade 3D CNG‑powered printed supercar

23

Mobile apps are an important fleet management tool according to research from the Corporate Vehicle Observatory

The Energy Saving Trust (EST) writes a guide on the benefits of fuel cards for fleet managers and how to best manage and control fuel consumption

GreenFleet examines the turbocharged 1.0‑litre Vauxhall Corsa, a regular fixture in the UK’s top ten best selling car charts

50 Road test: Hyundai i40

Since its arrival on British roads in 1975, Hyundai has gone from strength to strength.

GreenFleet’s Richard Gooding analyses what makes the i40 such good value

52 Road test: Kia Soul EV When you think electric vehicle, a Kia is not the first that comes to mind.

However, with the latest Soul EV now on the market, Richard Gooding asks does it deserve more credit?

52

37

GreenFleet magazine

www.greenfleet.net Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

5

EV registrations surpass 2014 total in six months

News

ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Over 50 electric buses to enter service in London Two London bus routes, the 507 and 521, will be replaced with a new fleet of electric buses from autumn next year. Transport for London (TfL) announced that 51 all electric buses will be operating across the two routes, making them the second and third pure electric bus routes in London.

The five year contract to operate the routes was awarded to Go Ahead, with the manufacturer of the buses yet to be announced.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/ou6c28f

The first six months of 2015 has seen a big increase in the registrations of plug-in cars, surpassing the total for the whole of 2014.

According to new analysis by Go Ultra Low, there were 14,586 new registrations of ultra low vehicles from January to June, compared with the 4,096 new registrations over the same period last year. The increasing volume exceeds last year’s 14,498 annual total registrations of vehicles eligible for the government’s Plug-in Car Grant.

More than 35,000 electric and hybrid cars have been registered in the UK, representing a three per cent share of all car sales in the last six months. Take-up of the Plug-In Car Grant has also shown a vast increase, prompting the government to commit an extra £200m to support it. However, a planned shake-up is set to see funds increasingly directed to the lowest emission vehicles.

From the statistics, it appears the

government expectations that five per cent of new car registrations (around 100,000 units) will be ultra low emission by 2020 look to be achievable at the current rate of growth.

Hetal Shah, Head of Go Ultra Low, said: “Being just six months in to 2015 and having already exceeded last year’s total plug-in car registrations is testament to consumer confidence in this capable and cost-effective technology. The year‑on‑year rises give us great confidence in the future of electric cars as we move towards an ultra low emission future.”

At present, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV has received the largest number of new registrations (7,255), followed by the Nissan Leaf (2,964) and the BMW i3 (1,111).

READ MORE tinyurl.com/olj39e7

London becomes first world city to quantify the health effects of nitrogen dioxide The London Assembly has released a new report announcing new figures which reveal the toll of air pollution on the lives of Londoners.

The report, produced by King’s College London, quantifies for the first time the health and economic effects of the air pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2), as opposed to previous studies which have solely focused on particulate matter. The research puts the total premature deaths from air pollution in London at close to 9,500 per year and the number of early deaths from nitrogen dioxide at more than 5,000 per year.

The report focuses on 2010, the most recent available ‘base’ year for the London Atmospheric Emission Inventory which provides our understanding of

air quality in the city. Projections from 2008, 2012, 2015 and 2020 are also included based on the data from 2010.

Meanwhile, The London Assembly Environment Committee has put pressure on Boris Johnson by suggesting that he should introduce plans to phase out the use of diesel vehicles in the capital.

The report ‘Driving away from diesel: Reducing air pollution from diesel vehicles’ recommends expanding the area of the ULEZ which will restrict access to low and zero emission vehicles beyond the congestion charging zone.

READ MORE

Eight councils shortlisted for £20 million plug in taxi fund Eight councils have been shortlisted to win a part of £20 million worth of funding to support an increase in the number of plug-in taxis.

Eight feasibility studies will each be backed by £30,000 of government funding and carried out independently by the Energy Saving Trust.

Local authorities who are not shortlisted can still submit bids for a share of the £20 million fund, but they will have to cover the costs of their own feasibility study.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/ngxpmcv

£20 million fund to develop driverless vehicles The government has announced a £20 million fund, to be matched by industry, to enable research and development into driverless vehicles.

The new measures were announced

by Business Secretary Sajid Javid and Transport Minister Andrew Jones and aim to put the UK at the forefront of the intelligent mobility market.

A new code of practice for testing will also be introduced, including the framework they need to safely trial cars in real life scenarios.

Sajid Javid said: “To boost productivity Britain will need to capitalise on new technologies like driverless vehicles, securing high skilled jobs for those who want to work hard and get on, and contributing to a more prosperous future for the whole of the country.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/ngxpmcv

tinyurl.com/nr5go8q

Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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News

FUEL PRICES

Diesel cheaper than petrol for first time in ten years Diesel prices have dropped below that of petrol after price cuts announced by major UK supermarkets.

Morrisons, Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s stores have dropped diesel prices below that of petrol, which, according to analysis by Experian Catalyst, is the first time this has happened since 2001.

The drop in price comes due to increased supply form refineries. One consequence of the price drop could be a resurgence of diesel cars, which have recently seen competition from more fuel efficient petrol engines.

Andy Peake, Asda’s senior director for petrol, said: “Asda cutting another 2ppl on diesel is great news for our drivers, meaning they will pay no more than 112.7ppl at any Asda forecourt. Every single one of our customers knows the maximum price they will pay at the pump regardless of where they live.”

FURTHER INFORMATION tinyurl.com/pxpq786

WORLDWIDE EV MARKETS

Norway tops the global EV market According to the latest analysis from IHS Automotive, Norway continues to lead the global electric vehicle (EV) and plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) market.

In first quarter 2015, Norway ranked first as measured by market share of EV and PHEV registrations in a given quarter for eight countries; with a staggering 33 per cent of all new cars registered having an electric powertrain. With EVs and PHEVs representing one third of new vehicles registered in Norway during the first quarter of this year, Norway leads the first quarter rankings with just over 8,000 units, and achieved a 41 per cent increase in volume over the same period last year.

The analysis also revealed that the Netherlands experienced the second highest growth, with 5,700 units registered (5.7 per cent of the market), while the UK 8,684 unites registered - representing 1.2 per cent of the new car market. In the last 12 months, the UK has also seen a 390 per cent surge in EV sales.

In terms of absolute sales, the U.S. and China continue to lead all countries based on volumes of new EV/PHEVs registered during the quarter, with nearly 15,000 registrations in the U.S. and nearly 13,000 registrations in China.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/olcjth7

SUMMER BUDGET

Summer Budget reveals new car and fuel tax rates The government will implement new regulations regarding vehicle exercise duty after a new three band classification was announced during Chancellor George Osborne’s first fully-Conservative Budget in the House of Commons since 1996.

From April 2017, all new cars registered will be classed in one of three new vehicle exercise duty (VED) bands: Zero-emission, Standard and Premium. There will be an average flat rate of £140 for most cars, except in the first year when tax will remain linked to the CO2 emissions that the car produces.

Electric cars won’t pay any road tax at all and the most expensive cars will pay more. VED rates for older and existing cars will remain unchanged, with the tax facing a possible increase each year by the RPI to account for inflation.

Under the new VED system from April 2017, first year rates will vary according to the carbon dioxide emissions of the vehicle.

There will be a flat standard rate of £140 for all cars except those emitting zero grams of carbon dioxide per kilometre (gCO2/km), for which the standard rate will be £0. Cars with a list price above £40,000 will attract a supplement of £310 per year for the first five years in which the standard rate is

paid. The new VED system will be reviewed as necessary to ensure that it continues to incentivise the cleanest cars. The new rates and bands are set out in the following table.

In the announcement, Osbourne commented on fuel duty, confirming that the government will remain frozen as promised in the March Budget. Fuel duty will therefore not increase by inflation in September this year and will remain unchanged until 2016. However, Osborne did comment on changes to MOT Testing, by revealing government plans to extend the deadline for the first MOT of new cars and motorcycles from three years to four years.

LowCVP Managing Director Andy Eastlake said: “The LowCVP supports a CO2-related first year VED but is concerned about the impact of flat (£140) annual duty rates on the cost-conscious second-hand buyer. The proposed new system won’t encourage the adoption of low carbon vehicles in the important second-hand market. In the longer run it’s also likely to encourage drivers to keep higher carbon ‘gas guzzlers’ on the road and will also have impacts on residual values.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/nophtkn

TyreSafe voices concerns over extending first MOT to four years Road safety charity TyreSafe has voiced concerns at the impact on road safety should the government proceed with legislation requiring new cars and motorbikes to take their first MOT test after four years rather than three.

In the Summer Budget speech on 8 July, Chancellor George Osborne said: “We will consult on extending the deadline for new cars and motorbikes to have their first MOT test from three years to four years, which would save motorists over £100m a year.”

TyreSafe chairman Stuart Jackson commented: “In recent years there have been various proposals on changing the timing and regularity of the MOT test which have all been rejected on the grounds of their negative impact on road safety. While cars and motorbikes are more reliable than ever before, there are safety critical components

which require regular maintenance and replacement. TyreSafe urges the government to consult closely with road safety organisations before making a final decision on extending the MOT deadline for new cars and motorbikes,” concluded Jackson.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/qjdr9r8

Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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News

ACQUISITIONS

LeasePlan sold for €3.7 billion

Nigel Trotman Are your drivers using their (electronic) brains?

Sitting in my car the other day, I got to thinking about the amazing range of technology that now goes into making driving safer, easier – and greener. Innovations such as ABS and ESP have made allowed drivers to survive errors of judgement, and autonomous braking will no doubt also soon become the norm. Meanwhile sat nav is now almost universally standard meaning that in theory, at least, miles (and fuel) are not wasted searching for a destination. I can well remember the time I had to purchase a street map of Cheltenham having got horribly lost!

Many cars also offer ‘Eco’ modes aimed at delivering reduced fuel consumption. However, I wonder how often do fleet drivers take the time to fully understand this technology – and ensure that they take full advantage? In my experience, handovers of new company cars are often almost non-existent, meaning that drivers will need to consult the manual to understand the full capabilities of their new vehicle – and of course as we know they all do that every time!

In the absence of an effective handover – often impossible due to work pressures – I believe that fleet managers should be ensuring that their drivers have access to effective communications explaining how to get the most from their technology. In particular, they need to understand that when using satnav, the fastest route is not always necessarily the best. Extensive experience with my own BMW system has shown me that often the ‘EcoPro’ route is actually the shortest in terms of mileage and at the end of the day may only lead to a journey time difference of 15/20 minutes. It will also produce less emissions and burn less fuel. It is worth thinking about – do your drivers think about emissions as well as time?

FURTHER INFORMATION Follow Nigel Trotman on Twitter @NigelTrotman or email nigel.trotman@talktalk.net

12

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net

Dutch vehicle management company LeasePlan is being sold to a consortium including the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Goldman Sachs for €3.7 billion.

The company is currently owned by joint venture Global Mobility Holding BV, which comprises of Volkswagen, Fleet Investments BV and German bank Meltzer who each hold an indirect stake in 50 per cent of the company. The sale comes a few months after talks had previously broken down between LeasePlan’s owners and another unnamed consortium.

The Consortium acquiring LeasePlan is composed of a group investors, including leading Dutch pension fund service provider PGGM, Denmark’s largest pension fund ATP, GIC, Luxinva SA, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), the Merchant Banking Division of Goldman Sachs and investment funds managed by TDR Capital LLP. Eric-Jan Vink of PGGM, on behalf of the consortium,

said: “As market leader in the global fleet management business, LeasePlan offers an attractive long-term investment opportunity. We are investing in the future of a company with an unmatched portfolio of market-leading assets, a highly knowledgeable and dedicated employee base and a sound strategy for the future, under highly experienced management. The Consortium looks forward to supporting the management team as they focus on growing the business.”

Vahid Daemi, CEO and chairman of the managing board of LeasePlan, said: “The change of ownership announced today marks a new era for our company and will enable LeasePlan to continue our successful journey and focus on executing our long-term strategy and growth ambitions.”

READ MORE tinyurl.com/nt894ox

Toyota recalls 625,000 hybrids due to software glitch

Toyota is recalling approximately 625,000 hybrid vehicles to fix a software glitch which, in theory, could lead it to shut down the hybrid system while the car is being driven.

Models affected include some Prius V minivans and Prius+ built between May 2010 and November 2014.

Japan accounts for 340,000 of the cars, while 160,000 are in Europe and 120,000

in North America. Toyota said that there had been no reports of crashes or injuries due to the software glitch.

Despite the recalls, the company said in May that it expected to report a record net profit for the third year in a row in the current financial year.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/qzoq4yu

News

VEHICLE CHARGING

LowCVP’s Andy Eastlake

London’s first on‑street rapid chargers installed in Hackney Hackney Council has installed London’s first publicly accessible on-street rapid charging points for electric vehicles.

The three units are located in Bentley Road in Dalston; Calvert Avenue in Shoreditch; and Reading Lane in Hackney Central. The 50 kW chargers come with both AC and DC cables and are capable of fully charging a vehicle in half an hour. They feature an eight inch LCD screen for simple user interaction, as well as real time consumption data and a constantly refreshed charging cost, which is measured on a pay as you go basis.

75 per cent of the funding was provided by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV), with the remaining 25 per cent provided by Transport for London (TfL). The initial registration fee will be £20, with an annual

fee of the same amount.

Cllr Feryal Demirci, Hackney Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Sustainability who announced the formal launch of the on‑street charging network, said: “The Council is committed to improving air quality in the borough, including supporting the development of electric vehicles both locally and across London.

“We hope this network will make charging more accessible, efficient and practical, in particular enabling electric taxis and private hire vehicles, as well as other commercial vehicles such as those used by courier companies, to recharge during the working day.”

READ MORE tinyurl.com/ouuq3qm

Chargemaster seeks to expand POLAR network Chargemaster has announced an expansion in its POLAR charging point network, and plans to install over 2,000 new points across the country.

This includes over 1,000 charging points in London, some of which will replace old stations where there has been substantial criticism of ‘out-of-order’ charge points.

Chargemaster will also transfer more than 300 existing charging points from the Source London network later this year. Originally installed by Chargemaster, they are currently controlled

by Bolloré and will now form POLAR London.

Around 600 points will be located in entirely new locations, with a focus on destinations such as hotels, supermarkets and health clubs. When complete, the POLAR UK network should number around 6,000 charging points.

Chargemaster is also offering to replace local authority controlled units free of charge.

READ MORE

The Summer Budget and early views on the low carbon agenda from the new government Last week we had the first Conservative Budget for 20 years. The Chancellor announced a major reform to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) which could have quite significant implications for the fleet buyer as well as for the used car market.

I welcome the clear low carbon signal in the first year tax which will continue to encourage all buyers make lower carbon choices, but have some concerns about how some of the other changes will play out in the market. While VED may not be the most significant incentive for car buyers, it is an important one. My particular worry is about the impact the flat (£140) annual duty rate (after the first year) will have on the market and particularly the cost-conscious secondhand buyer. The flat rate removes one key incentive for the secondhand buyer to choose a lower carbon vehicle, and could perhaps adversely affect the residual values of the most efficient vehicles.

The zero VED rating provides an incentive to purchase pure battery electric vehicles (or hydrogen fuel cell vehicles) but immediately stepping up to £140 does little to encourage used car buyers to go for a plug-in hybrid and other promising low carbon vehicle and fuel technologies. In addition, I firmly believe that we need to reconsider the fuel duty situation and develop a far more sophisticated approach to this increasingly complex area Away from Treasury the new minister at the Department for Transport, Andrew Jones, spoke at our Annual Conference on 24 June and I was pleased by the clear and unequivocal support he expressed for the low carbon automotive sector as well as for the work of the LowCVP, both at the Conference and in our prior meeting.

As both a local councillor in Harrogate, and as an MP, the new minister explained that he has been a keen advocate for renewable energy and green growth. He said it was therefore fitting that his first keynote speech should be at our Conference because “the LowCVP has done so much to further the cause of green motoring”. He also praised the conference itself, which he said has “always provided an excellent forum for debate and discussion”.

In terms of the broader agenda, the minister said he was glad to be taking on the role at “a time of optimism and growth within the industry”. He commented on the need to also consider air quality to ensure that the low carbon drive also delivers less local pollution.

In a rousing finale he said: “We have a great opportunity here - not just to make the UK one of the world’s leading market for green vehicles - but also one of the world’s leading producers too.”

Let’s hope the new minister’s sentiments, which I’m sure are sincerely held, are widely shared across the new government!

FURTHER INFORMATION The minister’s speech as well as all the other speeches, videos and resources from our Conference on 24 June – The Energy for Future Transport – are now available on our website (lowcvp.org.uk/events/conference15)

tinyurl.com/o39bk2s

Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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Down The Road

Top 10

Lowest BIK rate cars in 2015

In association with

1

* Minimum P11D values shown for model range as of 22/07/2015

NISSAN LEAF EV CO2: 0g/km – P11D £26,435* – BIK 5% / 7% / 9% The Leaf maintains its position (just) as the most popular electric car or van with at least 7,000 registered in the UK, representing around a quarter of all EV sales.

2

BMW i3 EV CO2: 0g/km – P11D £30,925* – BIK 5% / 7% / 9% BMW thought outside the box in designing the i3. The result is both desirable and green to the core. The all-electric i3 handles well and is packed full of technology, all in a boldly styled, almost futuristic package.

3

MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER PHEV CO2: 44g/km – P11D £33,249* – BIK 5% / 7% / 9% Already a hit with company car drivers, with only a five per cent BIK rate, the Outlander PHEV now accounts for around half of UK plug-in hybrid sales.

4

VOLVO XC90 PHEV CO2: 49g/km – P11D £59,900* – BIK 5% / 7% / 9% Volvo brings its own refinement to the plug-in SUV market. The XC90 PHEV has just received approval for the UK’s Plug-in Car Grant currently worth £5,000.

5

MERCEDES-BENZ C350e PHEV CO2: 48g/km – P11D £38,215* – BIK 5% / 7% / 9% 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds, a top speed of 166 mph, 123mpg, 48g/km of CO2.

Capable of 10 miles in EV mode.

6

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 1.4 TSI GTE CO2: 39g/km – P11D £33,700* – BIK 5% / 7% / 9% Volkswagen’s new plug-in hybrid Golf GTE combines a dash of GTI style, performance and emission-free motoring with a 1.4 litre turbocharged petrol engine plus 75 kW motor combo.

7

DIESEL

Ford Transit Connect The small commercial Ford Transit Connect ushers in the company’s latest Euro 6 1.5-litre TDCi diesel engine this summer, with claims of 74.3mpg and 99g/km.

Ford states that efficiency is up six per cent over the 1.6-litre TDCi model it replaces.

The revised Transit Connect is also fitted with the latest driver assistance systems and technologies including Traffic Sign Recognition and Lane Keeping Aid, which are claimed firsts for the small van segment.

SYNC2 connectivity also makes its European van debut in the new Transit Connect.

The even smaller Transit Courier offers better efficiency too, with the addition of a 1.0-litre EcoBoost, 115g/km petrol version.

On sale: summer 2015 CO2: 99-109g/km Monthly BIK: £52.50 (20%), £105.00 (40%)

8

TOYOTA AURIS TOURING HYBRID CO2: 85g/km – P11D £21,640* – BIK 13% / 15% / 17% Based on the Auris platform, the Toyota has cleverly stashed the battery under the rear seat leaving the same boot space as the petrol and diesel models.

PORSCHE CAYENNE E-HYBRID CO2: 79g/km – P11D £92,099* – BIK 13% / 15% / 17% The Cayenne E-Hybrid achieves under half the BIK rate of its petrol and diesel Cayenne equivalents. It can also do what they can’t; drive 22 miles emission-free.

10

About Next Green Car Next Green Car provides extensive CO2 and tax information, as well as a life cycle NGC Rating for all new cars available in the UK as well as over 50,000 UK models since 2001. Visit www.nextgreencar.com/company-car-tax

14

As the calendar nears late summer, Gre revised models due to tempt fleet buy

VAUXHALL AMPERA E-REV CO2: 27g/km – P11D £33,695* – BIK 5% / 7% / 9% While this extended range EV has been withdrawn from UK showrooms, the state-of-the-art Ampera offer 40+ miles of real-world EV driving range.

CITROEN DS5 2.0 HDi HYBRID4 CO2: 85g/km – P11D £29,005* – BIK 13% / 15% / 17% Being part-electric driven means that this diesel‑fuelled PHEV avoids the current 3 per cent diesel surcharge, resulting in a BIK rate of 13 per cent for 2015/16.

9

Down th and upco

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net

Tesla Model S enhancements Tesla has announced new Model S upgrades, including and improved acceleration. The new model S will house with the use of silicone in the anodes, which is said to in Tesla also unveiled the new ‘ludicrous mode’, which im reduces the 0-60 time to just 2.8 seconds. This new m new Model S cars and will also be available as an upgr The new 90kW battery will also be available to existin Musk has advised that customers may wish to wait a little lo as the company aims to improve battery capacity by fiv On sale: autumn 2015 CO2: 0g/km BIK: 5%

Down The Road

he road: the latest new oming models

eenFleet looks at a few of the new or yers in the next few months Škoda Superb Škoda relaunches its flagship model with the introduction of the new third‑generation Superb.

The five-door hatchback and estate models are up to 75kg lighter than before for improved efficiency. There is more room, too, as well as a larger 1,760‑litre boot (1,950 litres for the estate).

Four TSI petrol and three TDI diesel units power the new model with outputs ranging from 117bhp for the entry-level diesel 1.6 TDI to 278bhp for the new 2.0 TSI. Prices start at £18,640 for the hatch and £19,840 for the estate. An SE Business model aimed at fleet buyers is available from £21,590.

On sale: September 2015 CO2: 105-168g/km BIK: 18-28%

PETROL

DIESEL

PETROL

DIESEL

Renault Kadjar Renault enters the C-segment crossover market with the new Kadjar. A bigger brother to the Captur (GreenFleet, issue 84), the French company states that it is set to offer excellent economy and emissions. A focus on ‘driving enjoyment’ and comfort are also set to feature. As well as four-wheel drive versions, two-wheel drive models are available. The car will be the first Renault to be built in China, and that market will be one its key sales destinations along with Europe and selected African and Mediterranean Basin countries.

Targeting technology-loving buyers, the 4.45m-long Renault is well kitted out with LED headlights and a high specification including a seven-inch capacitive colour touchscreen TFT display. The Renault R-Link 2® multimedia system will also be available in the Kadjar to control navigation, telephone, radio and a wide range of on-board apps.

One petrol and two diesel engines are on offer, with emissions ranging from 99g/km for the Expression+ dCi 110 EDC Auto to 130g/km for Signature Nav TCe 130. Prices start at £17,995.

On sale: autumn 2015 CO2: 99-130g/km BIK: 17-23%

PURE EV

g increased battery size, increased range e a 90kW battery, featuring improved cell chemistry ncrease the car’s range by up to 30 miles. mproves on the existing ‘insane mode’ and mode will be offered as a $10,000 option on rade for existing owners for $5,000 plus labour. ng customers for $3,000, but CEO Elon onger before changing batteries, ve per cent every year.

Fiat 500 Released on the 50th anniversary of the original car’s launch, the revised Fiat 500 includes over 1,800 improvements, resulting in increased fuel economy and reduced emissions.

Powered by a range of Euro 6-compliant engines in five and six-speed manual gearboxes or a Dualogic robotised transmission, the launch line-up includes the 1.2-litre 69bhp, the TwinAir 85bhp and the TwinAir 105bhp.

The TwinAir 0.9 85bhp has an official fuel consumption figure of 74.3mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 90g/km (74.3mpg and 88g/km with the Dualogic transmission).

Aesthetically, the 500 retains the ‘face’ of its predecessors with headlights which adopt new modules for improved night vision and extra safety. New light clusters define the revised look of the rear, with the fog light and reversing light relocated to the edges of the redesigned PETROL bumper trim. This improves safety by separating illumination functions.

The new Fiat 500 will go on sale in the UK in September with prices starting at £10,890 OTR. On sale: September 2015 CO2: 90-110g/km BIK: 13-17%

Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

15

CORPORATION TAX SAVINGS

LOW COMPANY CAR TAX

Compare the tax savings of running a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV as your company car against these market leaders.

148 MPG

NO ROAD TAX

MERCEDES AUDI Q5 S-LINE PLUS AUTO E250E-CLASS CDI SE AUTO

OUTLANDER PHEV GX4H AUTO

HONDA CR-V EX AUTO

BMW X3 XDRIVE 30D SE AUTO

COST OF THE CAR - P11D VALUE

£37,8997

£31,535

£39,860

£38,945

£37,365

GOVERNMENT GRANT REDUCTION

£5,000

£0

£0

£0

£0

ADJUSTED FINAL PRICE

£32,899

£31,535

£39,860

£38,945

£37,365

CO2 EMISSIONS G/KM

44

179

156

157

129

BENEFIT IN KIND RATE

5%

30%

29%

29%

23%

£758

£3,784

£4,624

£4,518

£3,438

VEHICLE BENEFIT CHARGE WITHOUT FUEL PROVIDED THE EXTRA TAX YOU PAY VS PHEV (40% TAXPAYER) VEHICLE BENEFIT CHARGE WITH FUEL PROVIDED THE EXTRA TAX YOU PAY VS PHEV (40% TAXPAYER)

–

£3,026

£3,866

£3,760

£2,680

£1,200

£6,436

£7,187

£7,081

£5,471

–

£5,236

£5,987

£5,881

£4,271

Discover how. Search PHEV. Visit: mitsubishi-cars.co.uk to find your nearest dealer

PHEV Manufacturer of the Year

WE HAVEN’T JUST MADE HISTORY

WE’RE MAKING RUNNING A FLEET £1,000s CHEAPER The Mitsubishi PHEV is cutting costs across the country - and if you’re managing a company car fleet it could reduce your running costs by £1,000s in one go1.

This intelligent hybrid decides when it’s more efficient to use petrol or electricity, meaning it has the ability to deliver a staggering 148mpg2 – significantly reducing petrol costs and consumption. And with a fraction of the CO2 emissions of small car there are significant tax savings that your business can make. You’ll be able to write down 100% of the cost of an Outlander PHEV in year one3. So even businesses with a small fleet of cars are saving £1,000s in Corporation Tax4, as well as saving money on their associated Class 1a National Insurance contributions5. The Outlander PHEV is exempt from Road Tax and the London Congestion Charge6. There’s £5,000 off the list price through the Government Plug-in Car Grant, which means an Outlander PHEV will cost you from just £28,2497, the same price as the Outlander Diesel – and it comes with a 5 year warranty8. We’ve made history, you just need to make time to find out how we can save you £1,000s on running a fleet. We call this Intelligent Motion.

Compare the corporation tax savings of a Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV against a typical company car.

PROFIT BEFORE TAX (PBT) TAX

RATE9

LIST PRICE OF VEHICLE CAPITAL ALLOWANCE

TYPICAL VEHICLE

OUTLANDER PHEV

£100,000

£100,000

20%

20%

£33,000

£32,899

8%

100%

CAPITAL ALLOWANCE (£)

£2,640

£32,899

TAXABLE PROFIT (ON £100,000 PBT)

£97,360

£67,101

CORPORATION TAX (NO VEHICLE PURCHASE)

£20,000

£20,000

CORPORATION TAX (WITH VEHICLE PURCHASE)

£19,472

£13,420

£528

£6,580

SAVING DUE TO CAPITAL ALLOWANCE

THE UK’s FAVOURITE PLUG-IN HYBRID

BUYING A PHEV WILL SAVE YOU A TOTAL OF £6,052 IN CORPORATION TAX (YEAR 1)

1. Outlander PHEV GX4h compared with Honda CR-V, BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Mercedes E-Class – average saving £5,555pa for a 40% taxpayer. The savings for business drivers with a company fuel card are higher. 2. Official EU MPG test figure shown as a guide for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. 3. Outlander PHEV qualifies as low CO2 emissions vehicle for the purpose of Capital Allowances. 8% write down allowance used for comparison. Vehicles with CO2 emissions less than 130g/km will only qualify for 18% from 1st April 2014. 4. Savings achieved due to lower Profits Chargeable to Corporation Tax (PCTCT). 5. Class 1a NI only payable on 5% of list price compared to 25%+ average. 6. Congestion Charge application required, subject to administrative fee. 7. Prices shown include the Government Plug-in Car Grant and VAT (at 20%), but exclude First Registration Fee. Model shown is an Outlander PHEV GX4h at £33,399 including the Government Plug-in Car Grant and metallic paint. On The Road prices range from £28,304 to £40,054 and include VED, First Registration Fee and the Government Plug-in Car Grant. Metallic/pearlescent paint extra. Prices correct at time of going to print. For more information about the Government Plug-in Car Grant please visit www.gov.uk/plug-in-car-van-grants. The Government Plug in Car Grant is subject to change at any time, without prior notice. 8. All new Outlander PHEV variants come with a 5 year/62,500 mile warranty (whichever occurs first), for more information please visit www.mitsubishi-cars.co.uk/warranty. 9. From 1st April 2015.

Outlander PHEV range fuel consumption in mpg (ltrs/100km): Full Battery Charge: no fuel used, Depleted Battery Charge: 48mpg (5.9), Weighted Average: 148mpg (1.9), CO2 Emissions: 44 g/km.

Your right-hand man.

FORD KUGA

Auto Start-Stop Technology

There are many features in the Ford Kuga that make it a valuable asset to any business: A 2.0 Diesel engine that generates only 122g/km CO2.

Intelligent All-Wheel Drive and Smart Regenerative Charging.

Opening the tailgate is easy with the Hands-free power tailgate even when your arms are full.

In slow moving traffic Active City Stop will reduce the likelihood of the car colliding with a vehicle in front if it detects a collision is likely.

• • • •

For more information please contact our Business Centre on 0345 723 2323.

P11D

BIK

CO 2

MPG

£20,795 - £33,345

22% - 29%

171 - 122g/km

38.2-60.1

COMBINED

Official fuel consumption figures in mpg (l/100km) for the Ford Kuga range: urban 30.4 - 52.3 (9.3-5.4), extra urban 45.6 -65.7 (6.2- 4.3), combined 38.2- 60.1 (7.4- 5.2). Official C02 emissions 171 -122g/km.

The mpg figures quoted are sourced from official EU-regulated test results (EU Directive and Regulation 692/2008), are provided for comparability purposes and may not reflect your actual driving experience.

Vehicle shown is the Ford Kuga Titanium X Sport in Magnetic at extra charge.

Tax Changes

VED changes: cutting down on band size Zero, Standard or Premium?

Understanding Vehicle Excise Duty can sometimes be unnecessarily confusing.

However, nearly all motorists need to pay it. GreenFleet analyses what effect the latest changes to tax could have for fleet operators As part of his Summer Budget, Chancellor George Osborne announced a controversial reform to the Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) banding system for cars registered on or after 1 April 2017 which will limit the tax breaks currently available to buyers of low‑emission vehicles. All new cars registered will be classed in one of three new VED bands: Zero-emission, Standard or Premium.

There will be an average flat rate of £140 for most cars, except in the first year when tax will remain linked to the CO2 emissions that the car produces. Zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs) will maintain a standard rate of £0.

Osborne has said that the ‘standard’ charge of £140, which will cover 95 per cent of all cars, will be paid into the Roads Fund from 2020-2021. The theory behind the changes is that electric cars won’t pay any road tax at all and the most expensive cars will pay more. VED rates for older and existing cars will remain unchanged, with the tax facing a possible increase each year by the Retail Price Index (RPI) to account for inflation.

Cars, including zero-emission cars, with a list price above £40,000 will be subject to a £310-per-year supplement for the first five years in which the standard rate is paid.

Changing band size The new system will continue to be based on 13 bands for the first year of a car’s life. Cars emitting between 1g/km and 50g/km of CO2 will be subject to a £10 VED cost, but those emitting more than 255g/km will attract a £2,000 levy.

In the second year of a car’s life, ten of the 13 bands will disappear, leaving Zero‑Emission, Standard and Premium. Zero Emission cars will be exempt form VED and both Standard and Premium cars will pay £140 a year, but a Premium car (those that cost more than £40,000) will be required to pay an additional £310 on top for the next five years of its life.

From year seven this extra payment will drop back to £140. The changes only apply to cars registered on or after 1 April 2017; existing cars will continue to be on the present system.

RAC Business spokesperson Jenny Powley believes that the changes could sway company car drivers away from fuel efficient vehicles. She said: “The changes to VED bands will have an impact on the total cost of ownership, which will have to be picked up by the company when fleet managers

are purchasing new cars from 2017. Fleet revenue would decline as more low-emission managers have been proactive in encouraging and ultra-low-emission cars were purchased. drivers to think about cleaner cars by going The changes to first year VED rates are for vehicles with low CO2 emissions which therefore understandable as they continue have zero or very low rates of road tax. to incentivise the uptake of the ‘cleanest’ “But there is now a big question cars from an emission standpoint. mark over how the new changes

“However, the standard will affect company car rate for all cars, with the e n r Osbo hat drivers’ inclination to go exception of zero emission for low carbon dioxide models and those with a s said t ard’ a h emitting, fuel efficient list price above £40,000, d n the ‘sta f £140, vehicles. For the first is less easily understood. o e g year of ownership ACFO believes that it r 5 a 9 ch cover s, l of a new vehicle, is equally important l i w h whic t of all car incentives will still to encourage second exist to select low er cen id into the owners to drive p emitting vehicles but low-emission cars pa will be Fund from and therefore would thereafter, a flat rate will s Road 0-2021 apply to most vehicles. favour a graduated This may raise questions standard rate of VED.” 202 about how companies will make purchasing decisions when MOT testing it comes to new vehicles in the future.”

The Chancellor also announced that fuel duty, a larger overall source of revenue Disincentivise or incentivise? to the Exchequer than VED, will remain The concerns were matched by the frozen. Fuel duty will therefore not increase Society of Motor Manufacturers and by inflation in September this year and Traders (SMMT) who said that the will remain unchanged until 2016. change ‘came as a surprise and is of Quentin Willson of FairFuelUK said considerable concern’ as the take-up of the campaign is pleased that Osborne low‑emission vehicles would be effected. continued to freeze fuel duty. He said: Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “Our 1.1 million supporters will be “While we are pleased that zero‑emission somewhat happier that whilst this tax still cars will, on the whole, remain exempt from remains the highest in the EU, a freeze VED, the new regime will disincentivise will help keep their high road transport take up of low‑emission vehicles. New costs somewhat lower than what was technologies will not benefit from long‑term rumoured to be introduced in this Budget.

VED incentive, threatening the ability of “Our recent empirical economic evidence the UK and the UK automotive sector sent to all MPs and the Treasury has made to meet ever stricter CO2 targets.” them realise that 40 million UK drivers will He also said the introduction of a surcharge not tolerate being used as that continual on premium cars risked undermining cash tax cow. The fight goes on for a cut.” growth in UK manufacturing and exports.

However, Osborne did comment on changes Hawes continued: “British-built premium to MOT Testing, by revealing government plans cars are in increasing demand at home and to extend the deadline for the first MOT of globally, and the industry helps to support new cars and motorcycles from three years to almost 800,000 jobs in the UK. Levelling a four years. This could pose safety issues for punitive tax on these vehicles will almost cars mounting a high mileage or cars that fail certainly impact domestic demand.” to get serviced regularly. Several organisations, ACFO chairman John Pryor was less including the BVRLA, have called for a time surprised at the changes, but also failed to and mileage-based criteria for the first MOT. L understand the standard rate implementation.

He said: “Reform of Vehicle Excise Duty FURTHER INFORMATION was always a possibility as it was obvious that under the current system government tinyurl.com/pgdhz53

Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

19

Air Quality

Time to clear the air over pollution

New research suggests that air quality in London is responsible for even more premature deaths than previously calculated. Vehicle emissions are a large chunk of the problem, but will Euro 6 make a realistic difference? GreenFleet examines TfL’S longer term attempt to improve air quality in the capital New research by Kings College London suggests almost 9,500 people died early in a single year as a result of long-term exposure to air pollution in London.

It is believed to be the first attempt at quantifying the health and economic impacts of NO2, with previous studies focusing solely on PM2.5. After taking into account the effects of both airborne particles, researchers from King’s College London found the number of premature deaths caused was higher than previously thought.

Interestingly the report, commissioned by the Greater London Authority, found that health issues caused by PM2.5 were predominantly from particles created outside of London, including emissions transported from Europe.

The data used by Kings College is five years old, and doesn’t take into account improvements since 2010 (it is generally considered that ‘older’ diesel models are much more pollutive).

Nevertheless, it paints a pretty grim picture of air quality in London, and more – much, much more – needs to be done by the manufacturers, the government, and, ultimately, the consumer.

A drop in price During a hot July this year, for the first time in more than a decade, diesel prices dropped below petrol prices, mainly due to increased supply from refineries outside the UK. According to analysis by Experian Catalyst, the last time diesel was cheaper than petrol was 2001. The reduction, it is claimed, could cause a resurgence in the popularity of diesel cars. This may suit the manufacturers, which have collectively (through the SMMT) campaigned vociferously against what they label as the ‘demonisation’ of diesel. But does it suit the environment?

And will it prove to be another obstacle in the path of individual drivers and corporations that are striving to make a difference?

Particulate matter is unburnt fuel which collects as soot from the tailpipe. In order to combat this, and to meet Euro 6, many diesel cars will be equipped with Selective Catalytic Reduction technology, where injecting urea into the exhaust pipe causes a reaction with the NOx, breaking it down into chemical components which, once passed thorough the catalytic converter, emerge from the tailpipe in the form of water vapour and nitrogen gas. The system has been in use for some time on larger vehicles, but, until now at least, not on cars. This is predominantly down to cost.

20

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net

According to the SMMT, almost 900,000 diesel engines worth £2.8bn will be built in the UK this year, with 85 per cent destined for export. The new Euro 6 regulations, which come into force for cars and LCVs on 1 September, set different standards for petrol and diesel cars. For diesels, they dramatically drop the permitted level of NOx emitted down to a maximum of 80mg/km (compared to the 180mg/km level of Euro 5). The NOx limit for petrol cars remains at 60mg/km, the same as for the Euro 5 standard.

Real e world t ow have sh nt polluta m s to be a m i seven t ur than c t me

Investment Large amounts of money has been spent by manufacturers to develop cleaner engine technology, and this has been successful to a point when you consider that average emissions in 2000 were 180g/km. There has been progress made, but real world tests have shown pollutant levels to be as much as seven time higher than current test methods. A new testing cycle, which would allow a more accurate picture of air pollution to be painted, was supposed to be introduced in 2017, but, mainly due to concerns from manufacturers, this has now been put back to 2020.

Although Mercedes-Benz were the first manufacturer to offer Euro 6-compliant vans with the Sprinter back in 2013, it won’t be until September 2016 that all new vans sold must meet the new regulation.

Regional problem?

According to TfL, the Ultra Low Emission Zone due for introduction in 2020 could improve air quality ‘dramatically’, and will require vehicles travelling in the Congestion Charge Zone to meet new standards or pay a daily charge. Cars and small vans will need to be Euro 6 for diesel engines (registered from 1 September 2015 so five years old or less in 2020) and Euro 4 for petrol engines (registered from 1 January 2006 so 14 years old or less in 2020). Non-compliant cars and small vans face a daily charge of £12.50, which also applies to large vans and minibuses, for which Euro 6 is introduced one year later (registered from 1 September 2016 so four years old or less in 2020).

Non-compliant Heavy Goods Vehicles, buses and coaches face much stiffer penalties. If they fail to meet Euro 6 (registered from 1 January 2014 so six years old or less in 2020) they will be required to pay a daily charge of £100.

Air Quality Peugeot Citroen made the most fuel‑efficient cars in Europe last year and are pushing ahead with new technologies such as Hybrid Air

Greg Archer Peugeot Citroën leading on fuel efficiency

ests t wn tha t levels s much a er h mes higest rrent t thods

Individual council action In June this year, Islington Council introduced a £96 annual surcharge on resident permits for diesel vehicles to protect residents from the health risks associated with diesel emissions. Residents were notified by letter as part of their normal permit renewal process, with exemptions for black cabs, carers, commercial vehicles with type ‘N’ status and certain trades people.

In practice But are TfL, and the Mayor of London, practising what they preach? On the plus side, two London bus routes (507 and 521) will be replaced with a new fleet of electric buses from autumn 2016. The 51 electric buses are expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 408 tonnes, and NOx emissions by 10 tonnes per year, when compared to single decker diesels. There are six pure electric buses currently in operation, as well as eight zero-emission hydrogen buses, which travel between Covent Garden and Tower Gateway.

By 2020, TfL is committed to ensuring all 300 single decker buses are zero emission, and all 3,000 double deck buses are hybrid. It’s own ‘real world testing’ has shown that a bus with a Euro 6 Engine was found to have 95 per cent lower NOx emissions than a bus with a Euro 5 (down from 10g/km to 0.5g/km). However, 306 of the existing New Hybrid Routemaster buses do not meet Euro 6 emissions standards, but as it stands will be granted an exemption from the (double?) standards, and TfL presumably won’t have to pay itself £30,800 per day to continue their use.

Meanwhile, The London Assembly Environment Committee has put pressure on Boris Johnson by suggesting that he should introduce plans to phase out the use of diesel vehicles in the capital. The report ‘Driving away from diesel: Reducing air pollution from diesel vehicles’ recommends expanding the area of the ULEZ which will restrict access to low and zero emission vehicles beyond the congestion charging zone. It also suggests increasing the ULEZ fine amount, regularly reviewing how ULEZ is working and whether the maximum pollution levels need to be lowered. L FURTHER INFORMATION Air quality: tinyurl.com/nzlqqql Real World Emissions: tinyurl.com/q6kv5q8 London Assembly says ‘Bin Diesel’: tinyurl.com/nr5go8q

Vehicle CO2 emissions are not only important to tackle global warming; the lower a car’s carbon emissions the cheaper it is to run and tax. For every 10 grams of CO2 per kilometre a car reduces its emissions a typical new car driver will use more than a tank less of fuel a year saving over £100.

Except for the lowest carbon cars it will also save two per cent Business in Kind (BiK) company car taxes. So which companies produce the lowest carbon cars and which brands are making the biggest improvements are useful information for fleets.

Transport and Environment has been comparing the performance of car brands for 10 years and recent How clean are Europe’s cars? report shows Peugeot Citroën made the most fuel‑efficient cars in Europe last year. Its fleet averaging 110 grammes per km in official CO2 figures. The analysis also found that among the major car makers, Honda made the least fuel-efficient cars in Europe in 2014. Each new Honda car sold averaged emissions of a whopping 133g/km of CO2.

In 2014, Nissan made the most rapid progress with an impressive 12.1 per cent reduction in emissions to 115g/km of CO2. T&E’s analysis credited much of this progress to last year’s engine upgrades for the Qashqai, illustrating the untapped potential of fuel efficiency technology to meet tighter CO2 targets.

Car makers responsible for three-quarters of sales in Europe are on track to meet their 2021 EU targets.

But consumers and fleets are warned to take official fuel economy figures with a generous pinch of salt as carmakers continue to manipulate the 40 year‑old test regime to claim that their cars require less fuel than in reality. The average gap between test and real-world performance has become a 45 per cent chasm for company car drivers. Progress to introduce a new more realistic test is essential but car makers and manufacturing countries undermining its introduction. How is detailed in a recent Times article and explained in a T&E briefing.

Greg Archer is clean vehicles manager at sustainable transport group Transport & Environment and a former director of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP)

Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

21

SILENT AS THE NIGHT Urban distribution during evening or night-time? The new CF Silent does its work extremely quietly. With an efficient and reliable PACCAR MX-11 engine. With a special ‘Silent mode’ in which noise level is no more than 72 dB(A). A unique solution for maximum efficiency. To learn more about the CF Silent contact your DAF dealer or visit www.daf.co.uk

DRIVEN BY QUALITY TRUCKS | PARTS | FINANCE

WWW.DAF.CO.UK

Commercial Vehicles

Showing operators how to cut emissions and costs The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership has launched a new Low Emission Van Guide and associated web tool for operators who want to cut their running costs while also reduce carbon emissions and impacts on local air quality operators experiences with alternative fuels and examples of fleets using an alternative fuel or technology.

Payback time The guide presents the financial case for each technology and shows how, in many cases alternative fuels can provide a payback within about five years, especially if operators are looking to operate in low‑emission zones, such as the one in London.

The guide provides business, environmental and operational information and guidance on switching from conventional fossil fuelled vans (up to 3.5 tonnes in weight) to alternative technologies and/or fuels.

In one example, the guide shows that operators using battery electric vans can enjoy a very short payback time and reduce the whole life costs of a vehicle operating in the London Congestion Charge zone by £18,340 (or £5,215 outside London). The guide helps operators to choose the most suitable low‑emission

The Low n n Va Emissioesents a r Guide pwn of each o breakd e technology l availab lp operators e to h erstand d n u y l l fu es incentiv

van technology or fuel for the type of work they need to do.

With the growing focus on air quality issues in urban areas, more local authorities (including Birmingham, Bristol, Islington and others) will be introducing measures to implement Ultra Low Emission Zones (ULEZ) and limit access to, or even prevent, heavily polluting vehicles from entering certain areas. Van fleet operators need to pay careful attention to changes in local policy that might affect their business plans over the lifetime of a newly purchased van (typically, three-five years).

The Low Emission Van Guide is best used in conjunction with the online Van Cost & Carbon Calculator Tool (VC3), developed in collaboration with the LowCVP by CENEX. The Tool allows van operators to compare the costs of operating conventional fossil fuelled vans with the five alternative fuel technologies.

Information on other developing technologies, such as hydrogen, can also be found at the LowCVP’s on-line Low Emission Van Hub which will continue to build as further information and examples become available. E

Written by Neil Wallis and Daniel Hayes, The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership

The van market is the fastest growing sector of UK road transport with vehicle numbers increasing at 3.5 per cent per year. The UK’s vans are almost entirely (96 per cent) diesel-powered and almost 50 per cent of the vehicles are owned by companies. This sector accounts for more than 10 per cent of the vehicles and 14 per cent of the UK’s CO2 road transport emissions so clearly any opportunity to de-carbonise vans operations should be grabbed with both hands, but knowledge of what is available is very patchy.

Prepared with support from several key fleets and stakeholders, the guide presents a breakdown of each available technology – electric, plug-in hybrid, LPG, CNG and biodiesel – to help the operator fully understand the incentives in place (including tax breaks and grants) to support vehicle purchase. These include the required infrastructure for operation, maintenance issues, vehicles available on the market (for each technology) and case studies with comments from van

Through operating Battery Electric Vans for three years, Fruit 4 London has noticed the extra business the vehicles are directly responsible for as their customers seek a more sustainable supply chain

Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

23

Jeep with ®

IT’S NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL. So you think you know Jeep? Think again. The new Cherokee doesn’t just offer outstanding performance off-road, it’s also guaranteed to stand out in the office car park. Its efficiency figures catch the eye too, returning 53.3mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 from only 139g/km.* New Cherokee models are also available with a range of fantastic features such as our award-winning 8.4” touch screen entertainment system, unique in-car wireless charging pad for mobile devices and adaptive cruise control. Hardly your average nine-to-five runaround, wouldn’t you say?

To book a test drive call our Business Centre on 01753 519442 or email us at fleet@jeep-comms.co.uk The new Jeep® Cherokee. Built Free.

jeep.co.uk/fleet FUEL CONSUMPTION FIGURES FOR THE NEW JEEP® CHEROKEE DIESEL RANGE IN MPG (L/100KM): EXTRA URBAN 55.4 (5.1) – 61.4 (4.6), URBAN 39.8 (7.1) – 44.1 (6.4), COMBINED 48.7 (5.8) – 53.3 (5.3), CO2 EMISSIONS: 154 – 139 G/KM. Fuel consumption and CO figures based on standard EU tests for comparative purposes and may not reflect real driving results. Model shown is Cherokee Limited.

2

*Figures based on 2.0 140 4x2 versions. Chrysler and CNH Industrial are Official Global Partners of the Expo Milano 2015. Jeep® is a registered trademark of FCA US LLC.

Commercial Vehicles

Operators have reported annual running cost savings of 40 per cent with LPG

 Battery Electric Vans (BEVs) Fruit 4 London is a small company, with a big environmental ethos, dedicated to delivering fresh fruit to over 200 London offices every day. Following a successful trial in 2012, Fruit 4 London operates five electric Renault Kangoo ZE delivery vans.

The vans typically travel 40 to 70 miles and make up to 60 delivery stops per day. Initially attracted by the environmental benefits of zero-emission vehicles, it soon became clear that the business case was compelling too.

Fruit 4 London director Laszlo Mulato explains: “Operating in the congestion charge zone saves us nearly £15,000 per year over the five vehicles and we’re also seeing around 75 per cent fuel savings compared to our two diesel delivery vans.”

Having operated BEVs for three years now, Mulato has also noticed the extra business the vehicles are directly responsible for as their customers seek a more sustainable supply chain. Fruit 4 London purchases all its electric vans on a battery leasing model, preferring the financial security and comfort of knowing that the batteries performance and lifetime are guaranteed for as long as they own the vehicles. Other fleets using battery electric vehicles include British Gas, Birmingham City Council, Gwent Cargo, Loughborough University and more.

Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vans The Environment Agency operates over 1,400 commercial vehicles. The Agency’s current CO2 reduction initiatives include the use of biodiesel in nearly 300 vehicles and the use of retro-fit hybrid assist systems in rear-wheel transits.

Dale Eynon, head of Fleet Services explains: “We already used Mitsubishi Diesel Outlanders within the fleet so, as the PHEV is available at the same cost and even with a low level of charging, we expect to break even. The main focus for us is to ensure we are maximising our CO2 savings.”

The 68 PHEV Outlanders, deployed in March 2015, leave the depots fully charged, and on average will travel around 60 miles a day. The Environment Agency is currently looking to install additional charge points at key work locations and educate staff as to the locations of public infrastructure which could be used during breaks.

Biodiesel suppliers have seen growing demand for fuel thanks to a lower than forecourt diesel, cost

The guide includes information on the required infrastructure for operation, vehicles available as well as operator case studies LPG and CNG Outdoor advertising firm Clear Channel UK has many reasons to choose autogas Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) to fuel its fleet of service vehicles. It was the environmental angle followed by the financial advantages that were initial prompts. Glenn Ewen, Fleet Manager, Clear Channel UK, said: “As part of our wider strategy to minimise our impact on the environment, Clear Channel UK has set a target of 84 per cent LPG usage against petrol.

As part of our commitment to this target, we have installed seven bunkers at Clear Channel depots nationwide where our drivers refuel.”

Typically, the company’s autogas LPG system provides annual running cost savings of around 40 per cent compared to petrol-fuelled vans.

Other fleets using LPG include Humberside Police Force, Grass Hopper Couriers, Camden Council and more. Following a successful implementation of gas refuse collection vehicles, Leeds City Council took advantage of their on‑site gas refuelling facilities and incorporated seven Volkswagen Caddy vans into their fleet.

The bi-fuel vehicles run on Compressed Natural gas (CNG) with a small petrol reserve and cover domestic repairs and maintenance at households in the city. The vehicles travel less than 70 miles per day so very much within their 300-mile range, supplying the council with a three pence per mile fuel cost saving. Other fleets using CNG: Tesco, Waitrose, Arla Foods, Balfour Beatty, Camden Council and more.

Biodiesel ATX is a logistics company operating ten vans.

In response to escalating fuel costs, ATX decided to invest in a biodiesel manufacturing plant and secure waste cooking oil supply contracts.

Mitch Sills, ATX Fuels Distribution Manager, explains how their business has changed in recent years: “Since 2004, when we first started out manufacturing our own fuel, we have gradually improved the quality of our biodiesel, which now exceeds the EN14214 standard.

Using the correct winterising agents we are also capable of running 100 per cent biodiesel all year round. Being lower cost than forecourt

diesel, the demand for our product is growing at such a rate our business is migrating from a logistics company to a biodiesel supplier.”

The filling pump at ATX allows real-time blending of biodiesel and diesel to suit the customer’s vehicle and requirements. ATX runs seven Ford Transit vans on blends of up to B100.

Although this does void the manufacturer’s warranty, they report no reliability problems.

They replace vans every 18 months, with each covering around 60,000 MPA. This equates to annual fuel cost savings of over £1,400 and a tailpipe emission saving of 21 tonnes of CO2 per van. Other fleets using biodiesel include the Environment Agency, McDonalds, Commercial Group, and the London Borough of Hackney.

Useful tool Gloria Esposito, LowCVP Head of Projects, said: “Vans can be significant contributors to damaging emissions, particularly in cities. This guide fills an information gap, giving operators the tools they need to cut costs and emissions, as well as the chance to polish up their image.”

Ian Wainwright, Head of Freight and Fleet at Transport for London (TfL), said: “We are very pleased to have helped create this useful guide, which will help improve the environment and reduce operator costs.

By matching different sized fleets to the most appropriate low-emission vehicle, any operator can make an informed purchasing decision and reap the benefits.”

Barbara Stoll, Transport Campaigner, Greenpeace UK, said: “This is much more than just a useful tool for businesses who need commercial vans in their fleets and have to watch their fuel costs. It’s another powerful demonstration that carbon efficiency and cost efficiency are not just compatible, but frequently go hand-in-hand. The beneficiaries will range from window cleaners to multinational logistics companies, and from our choking cities to our melting poles.” L FURTHER INFORMATION www.lowcvp.org.uk/lev

Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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Fleet Interview

Red engines with green initiatives As part of the London Fire Brigade’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, a total of 78 charge points have been installed across the capitals fire stations and Brigade sites. The charging points will service its growing fleet of electric support vehicles.

GreenFleet talks to the London Fire Brigade to find out more Protecting people and property from fire within the 1,587 square kilometres of Greater London The London Fire Brigade (LFB) is the busiest fire and rescue service in the country and one of the largest firefighting and rescue organisations in the world. LFB employs almost 6,000 staff of which over 5,000 are operational firefighters and officers. It is part of a group of organisations under the ‘umbrella’ of the Greater London Authority (GLA).

London currently has some of the worst air pollution in the UK, the primary source of which is road transport, which forms in particular hotspots within central London.

As a result, London Fire Brigade’s fleet of fire engines and vehicles have been converted to be compliant with Low Emission Zone (LEZ) standards, which aim to improve air quality by deterring the most polluting vehicles from driving in the area.

LBF’s fleet includes frontline appliances with low exhaust emissions and cars being dual‑fuelled (LPG/petrol) or with good vehicle emissions ratings.

Sustainable travel Travel and transport is recognised as a significant aspect of LBF’s operations – not only how it operates its own vehicles but also how staff travel to work every day. The second Travel Plan 2013/18 outlines the Brigade’s approach to managing the impact of this on the environment, staff and the community LBF will serve for the next five years.

Following some great successes with the first Travel Plan, the latest staff travel survey has shown positive results, with 19.48 per cent of respondents cycling to work, compared to a national average of just 2.9 per cent recorded in the 2011 Census.

This plan outlines the on-going commitment and the range of new measures to support the Brigade’s commitment to sustainable travel and transport. London Fire Brigade recognise the impact our operations have on the environment and we constantly strive to reduce and mitigate those impacts.

Working to achieve the highest standards in the management of environmental matters, the Brigade operates an Environmental Management System. Since 2005, the Procurement Department has had accredited certification to ISO 14001 Standard and from September 2014 that certification has been expanded to cover London Fire Brigade’s headquarters and 10 fire stations.

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The Brigade has used various methods to raise environmental awareness, including a ‘Green Champions’ programme, for which over 200 members of its staff have received green champions training to date. The Brigade’s aim to have at least one green champion per building.

As a result of Green Champion Audits, various improvements at sites were identified, including movement sensors on lighting, dual‑flush toilets and thermostatic controls on radiators. Responsible Procurement is also a major part of the Brigade’s green initiatives.

Fleet establishment London Fire Brigade currently uses five electric cars through its lease car scheme and hopes to include another five fleet cars towards the end of the year as a result of additional government funding secured from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles.

Once funding is secured there will be a two‑year trial and if this proves successful, the five vehicles will become part of its ongoing fleet establishment.

The trial vehicles will be allocated to various operational staff over two years to ensure the organisation gets a wide exposure of staff to the vehicles and meets the optimum annual mileage to provide affordability.

Under the current lease scheme the individual must choose a vehicle (electric, hybrid or fuel) that meets the criteria set by the Brigade. The scheme has a maximum emission limit and other requirements to ensure the choice is appropriate to operate as an emergency response vehicle (e.g. blue lights can be added, the vehicle can carry fire fighting kit in the boot, etc). Electric vehicles that currently fulfil this criteria and are available to staff on the lease scheme include the Mitsubishi Outlander, the Toyota Prius and the Vauxhall Ampera (now discontinued).

London’s Fire Commissioner, Ron Dobson, has agreed a £600,000 plan to replace 57 of the Brigade’s fleet vehicles with range extender and hybrid electric cars by 2016. He also revealed an ambition to eventually use low emission fire engines in the capital, calling on industry to bring forward new technologies to meet the unique

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net

Londonde a Fire Brigy uses l current tric cars c five ele s to include pe and ho er five fleet anoth wards the cars to of the end year demands of operational emergency vehicles.

Energy and water More than 99 tonnes of CO2 were saved through renewable energy installations in 2009/10, and a further 45 tonnes of CO2 were saved through staff awareness of the need to limit emissions.

Overall emissions are down by 16.7 per cent compared to 1990, despite significant growth in the size of the organisation.

A number of the Brigade’s sites are generating their own energy. Solar panels have been installed at 23 fire stations, solar heating at nine fire stations, combined heat and power at 19 fire stations and wind turbines at a further two fire stations.

Energy efficient lighting with occupancy controls has been fitted to 38 buildings so far. In 2009 the Brigade entered into a performance guarantee contract to reduce the energy consumption at 10 stations and has achieved a reduction in emissions of 253 tonnes per year across the 10 buildings.

The Brigade is replacing inefficient lighting,

Fleet Interview

installing sensor lighting, replacing old inefficient heating systems and adding extra loft and wall insulation.

Work has continued with water reduction projects with the installation of push‑button urinal controls, leak monitoring and low flow taps at eight stations. This has led to an improvement of over 15 per cent since 2006/7. Green Champions also help to save water such as installing water saving ‘hippo’ bags in toilet cisterns.

Grey water recycling and rainwater harvesting has been installed at Sidcup and Harold Hill fire stations and is included in the Standard Station Design Brief for all new and refurbished fire stations. The Brigade is not required to pay for operational water use but is working with its PFI vehicle supplier, Assetco, to develop the technology to measure how much water is used.  FURTHER INFORMATION www.london-fire.gov.uk/ GreenInitiatives.asp

Under the current lease scheme, individuals must choose a vehicle (electric, hybrid or fuel) that meets the criteria set by the Brigade. The scheme has a maximum emission limit and criteria to ensure choices can operate as emergency response vehicles Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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Start building your EV Fleet Recharging Today There’s a lot to take in and plan when thinking of going electric. But the electric vehicle team at EDF Energy has just made things easier for you.

We’ve developed SelfSurvey, an EV Infrastructure Site Survey App that can be used to develop, design and cost your EV charging requirements without the need of an on-site visit from an installation specialist.

Now there’s no need to complete paper work upfront, wait for a site survey appointment or pay survey costs.

Just click through these 4 simple steps: • Select Electric Vehicle model • Choose Speed of charging • Build the chargepoint • Specify location and position of chargepoints And you can reconfigure your design multiple times to produce a range of quotations to get the most suitable design and cost for you and your organisation.* * Quotations are subject to sufficient electricity supply and suitability of existing wiring

For more information about our home and fleet charging products call the electric vehicle team on: 0800 096 9636 or email electricvehicles@edfenergy.com

Alternative Fuels: Gas

NATURAL GAS

Industry network launched to maximise the potential of natural gas vehicles Increasing interest in natural gas as an alternative vehicle fuel will be channelled

by Energy and Utility (EU) Skills into the new Natural Gas Vehicle Network (NGV).

Companies including National Grid, Calor Gas, CNG Services, Flogas and Gas Alliance Group are working together to drive forward the development of the NGV market in the UK, focusing on trucks and buses.

Neil Robertson, chief executive of EU Skills says: “It is becoming clear that one of the ways the UK can respond to increasing pressure to improve air quality is to use gas as a fuel for HGVs and buses.”

“Gas delivers big greenhouse gas reductions as well as getting rid of hazardous NOx and particulate matter which can lead to myriad health problems, from shortness of breath to lung cancer.

This has meant there is some urgency to look for alternatives to diesel engines.”

“But the future is here now as demonstrated by Argos who are running dedicated Scania gas powered tractor and Bristol and Reading using compressed natural gas (CNG) buses.”

“We will provide a sector focus and will influence policy makers, encourage collaboration, as well as bringing

together leading experts and influential industry figures. We are seeing the creation of a vibrant new industry.”

Richard Court, head of stakeholder delivery at National Grid, said: “The network will provide a fabulous platform to maximise the potential of natural gas vehicles. By working together, we can innovate and make best use of existing infrastructure such as the gas distribution networks, LNG and CNG capabilities and develop a new workforce with new skills. We must also lobby policy makers to create the right environment

to make sure gas vehicles play their role in meeting the UK’s transport needs.”

An EU Skills report showed that both CNG and LNG can provide significant GHG reductions in the short term (15–30 per cent). NGV trucks also offer a 50 per cent reduction in noise compared to diesel.

READ MORE UK Market Review: The Role of Natural Gas in Road Transport tinyurl.com/peejsch

We’ve done a lot of thinking too Chances are, keeping running costs low and drivers happy are what occupy you most. Same goes for us.

It’s why we redesigned the Civic’s rear wing. So now it not only looks sportier, but saves up to 5mpg.

Great minds really do think alike.

Discover more clever thinking at www.honda.co.uk/civicfleet

Fuel consumption figures for the Civic range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 37.2 – 70.6 (7.6 – 4.0), Extra Urban 54.3 – 85.6 (5.2 – 3.3), Combined 46.3 – 78.5 (6.1 – 3.6). CO 2 emissions: 145 – 94 g/km. Fuel consumption figures sourced from official EU-regulated laboratory test results, are provided for comparison purposes and may not reflect real-life driving experience.

Model Shown: Civic 1.6 i-DTEC SR Manual in Brilliant Sporty Blue Metallic.

Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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Alternative Fuels: Gas

CNG

Iveco trials LNG Stralis with SMET

One of Waitrose’s 44 dual-fuel trucks which uses a mixture of gas and diesel fuel

Truck manufacturer Iveco has recently teamed up with European logistics company SMET to trial the integration of an 18-metre-long LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) powered Stralis.

According to Iveco, the LNG solution delivered significant advantages in total cost of ownership and environmental impact compared with the traditional diesel version.

Working in conjunction with SMET, Iveco had the opportunity to conduct a field-test on real missions, which evaluated the reduction in the average cost per unit for goods transported.

UK’s largest CNG filling station set to open Later this year, HGVs looking to use compressed natural gas (CNG) will be able to fill up close to junction 28 on the M6 in Lancashire. CNG Fuels has secured planning permission for the UK’s largest CNG filling station - the first high pressure connected, public-access CNG filling station in the UK, capable of refuelling five hundred plus HGVs per day.

The filling station will also supply 100 per cent renewable biomethane (Bio-CNG). Its first major customer will be Waitrose, part of John Lewis Partnership. Justin Laney, general manager, Central Transport says: “We see the use of methane, and in particular biomethane, as the main opportunity to make a step change in the carbon emissions of our heavy truck fleet. We’re currently running 44 ‘dual-fuel’ trucks that use a mixture of gas and diesel fuel, and are also interested in running ‘dedicated’ gas trucks. The Leyland gas filling station is in a good location for us, and importantly gives us the opportunity to purchase gas with ‘Green Gas Certificates’.

The Green Gas Certification Scheme (GGCS) tracks biomethane, or ‘green gas’, through the supply chain to provide certainty for those that buy it. Each unit injected into the grid displaces a unit of conventional gas.

The GGCS is run by the Renewable Energy Association’s subsidiary, Renewable Energy

Assurance Ltd. GGCS participants oversee the way it is run on a not-for-profit basis.

National Grid’s network strategy director, David Parkin explained: “We believe that the use of natural gas from the local transmission network, as a fuel in the transport sector, can play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the future. Whether it’s CNG or Bio‑CNG, the benefits for use as a fuel in HGVs is clear; lower emissions, quieter engine noise and favourable fuel prices, compared with traditional liquid fuels.”

Philip Field from CNG Fuels continues: “We’re really delighted to have secured John Lewis Partnership as the first major customer for the Leyland LTS CNG station. Being able to offer attractively priced Bio-CNG makes converting to gas a perfect way for companies to drastically reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and improve their bottom line, without compromising operational efficiency. We’re expecting many more of the UK’s big fleets to take the same path.”

CNG Fuels will also be supplying CNG to the HGVs of Brit European at the Leyland LTS CNG station.

READ MORE tinyurl.com/3fhcjfz

CNG-POWERED VEHICLES

Blade 3D printed supercar powered by CNG Blade is the world’s first 3D-printed supercar. Designed and built by US-based Divergent Microfactories, the prototype is equipped with a 700-horsepower bi-fuel engine that can use either compressed natural gas (CNG) or petrol. Blade goes from 0-60 in about two seconds and weighs around 1,400 pounds.

READ MORE

READ MORE tinyurl.com/n9enljk

Leeds Council investigates CNG filling station with Northen Gas Networks Leeds City Council wants to to kickstart the market for CNG-fuelled vehicles in the city by building a filling station.

The council is working with Northern Gas Networks on a bid to part-fund the station through OFGEM’s Network Innovation Competition (NIC).

Leeds CNG station would be accessible to both public and private sector customers. To test the appetite for supporting the project, the Council submitted a screening phase application which has been accepted

by OFGEM. Approval for this scheme would allow for significant emission savings to be delivered. The Council’s replacement profile from 2017 to 2022 includes 66 RCVs, which means £1.58m of additional capital will need to be injected into the replacement programme over five years to facilitate a full shift away from diesel.

The business case has been developed using cost projections from the Department of Energy and Climate Change on diesel, and CNG priced as per the same as feedback from soft market test respondents, including a CNG consultant.

However, there is a risk that if diesel prices do not behave as predicted, (e.g. rise), then the payback model and fuel cost savings may not be as significant as anticipated.

tinyurl.com/nelb6yl

Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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® © 2015 TomTom Telematics B.V. TomTom ® and the logo are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by TomTom N.V. and its affiliates. Our limited warranty applies to this product. You can review it at www.business.tomtom.com/legal

SAVE FUEL TOGETHER.

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Call 0208 822 3605 or E-mail business.uk@tomtom.com to arrange a free demonstration of WEBFLEET ®.

www.tomtom.com/telematics

Telematics

Telematics: the future of fleet management?

New data suggests that drivers are becoming more receptive to telematics and mobile applications, which can lead to increased driver safety, fewer accident claims and increased fuel efficiency Telematics is playing an increasingly important role in fleet and driver management, with organisations utilising the technology to improve safety, productivity, profitability and make fleets more eco-friendly.

In-vehicle telematics can work through dedicated devices, or through an increasing amount of apps for mobile devices.

Using GPRS, GSM and GPS connections, telematics technology provides drivers with access to important information, such as the company fleet policy, vehicle information and regularly used services.

Real-time data can be captured and converted into useful information regarding driver behaviour, vehicle mileage, fuel efficiency, accident analysis and vehicle localisation. This data is then securely transmitted to an online database and can be accessed through an online portal.

Corporate Vehicle Observatory Barometer The Corporate Vehicle Observatory (CVO) Barometer interviewed more than 4,500 fleet decision makers across 15 countries, asking them about their use of telematics and mobile apps for fleet management.

The research split up companies due to size, with companies with less than ten employees and companies with 10-100 employees classed as small companies, and companies with 100-999 and over 1000 employees classed as large companies.

44 per cent of UK-based respondents from large companies found mobile phone apps a useful fleet management tool, as well as 27 per cent in small companies.

The picture is a

similar one in other European countries, with 41 per cent of larger companies and 28 per cent of smaller companies claiming they found apps useful.

The use of apps by both drivers and fleet managers is becoming more common, with around a third of businesses surveyed in the UK now allocating smartphones and tablets to their employees, providing access to a range of downloadable apps.

The research also breaks down what fleet decision makers deem to be the most useful app functionality. The ability to access the company car policy and the ability to remotely book services through an app were found to be the most useful to larger companies, with the company car policy again being a priority for smaller companies, as well as the ability to locate regularly used services.

Global Mobility Monitor Survey LeasePlan commissioned similar research in its Global Mobility Monitor survey.

The research followed the deployment of telematics among 3,377 lease drivers (predominantly of light commercial and service vehicles) from 20 countries worldwide.

38 per cent of drivers questioned said that telematics would alter their driving behaviour if installed in their vehicle. 14 per cent responded saying that it would encourage them to drive more cautiously, while seven per cent stated they would drive more slowly. This response prompted LeasePlan to conclude that invehicle telematics technology has the potential to positively affect driver safety by influencing driver’s behaviour behind the wheel.

The survey also found that 17 per cent of respondents would

e Real‑timn data ca red u be capte driver ys to anal ur, vehicle behavio ge, fuel milea ncy efficie ent id and accage dam

pay more attention to fuel consumption if the technology was present in the vehicle, which suggests that telematics may have the potential to encourage a reduction in fuel consumption and, as a result, CO2 emissions.

Pilot projects A pilot project by LeasePlan Italy echoed the Global Mobility Monitor Survey’s findings and found that telematics technology has the potential to enable better risk management, improve driver safety and reduce costs. Compared to 2013, the accident claim frequency of a fleet of 16,000 vehicles (12,800 LCV 3,200 cars) equipped with telematics devices decreased by almost one third in 2015.

LeasePlan Italy also found that in-vehicle telematics substantially improved the recovery rate of stolen vehicles, which increased from 14 per cent to 86 per cent.

Additionally, LeasePlan Spain recently developed a driver application based on telematics data, allowing approximately 7,000 drivers (75 per cent passenger cars, 25 per cent LCVs) to monitor their own driving behaviour. The initial results were promising, with a 12 per cent reduction in insurance claims and an eight per cent reduction in fuel consumption.

Over half of respondents to the Global Mobility Monitor survey (55 per cent) said they would feel comfortable having a telematics device installed in their car. This suggests that while telematics, in-vehicle devices and mobile apps are becoming more accepted, more can still be done to improve uptake and encourage drivers to utilise the technology, which has the potential to improve fleet management and safety.  FURTHER INFORMATION tinyurl.com/pstpcnj

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Advertising Case Study

Ask yourself – can your business afford to stay mobile without SmartWitness?

Britain’s most popular vehicle journey recorders, SmartWitness lets your company monitor all around its vehicles with just a single camera. As well as recording high quality images covering the front, rear and interior, the system can record vehicle location, vehicle speed, driving style and impact force, providing vital, court admissible evidence in the event of an accident.

SmartWitness’s range of products provide fleet managers, hire firms, hauliers and private individuals with driving aids to facilitate safer driving and offer complete protection against the ever-increasing threat from fraudulent insurance claims on our roads. SmartWitness partner with more telematics and insurance partners than any other camera provider, offering a fully integrated solution.

Luxury chauffeur company Tristar Worldwide, based in Middlesex, made savings of £60,000 a year after installing SmartWitness cameras to its fleet of 460 vehicles, cutting its accident rate by half.

Insurers have found that just two per cent of incidents recorded on SmartWitness cameras result in disputed claims – against an industry norm of 40 per cent for all motor claims. SmartWitness products

are recommended by major insurers and officially approved by Transport for London.

They provide complete integration with Telematics Systems – so all fleet management and driver information is accessed through the telematics provider’s system. SmartWitness won the Fleet News award for ‘Best New Product’ for the KP1, hailed as ‘the most advanced vehicle journey recorder in the world’.

The KP1 is the most powerful 3G/4G instant video transmission vehicle camera with built-in tracking and telematics data.

SmartWitness’ SVC1080-LCA features a full HD, 170-degree lens to provide a comprehensive view of any incident.

SmartWitness’s board includes non‑executive chairman, Keith Hellawell, the former Chief Constable of Cleveland and West Yorkshire. Dr Hellawell said: “SmartWitness is at the forefront of developing exciting new in-cab cameras.

These have been shown to markedly improve driving standards and road safety.”

Daily Telegraph motoring columnist James Foxall said: “SmartWitness has achieved remarkable savings in hauliers’ insurance premiums.”

Visit the website below to learn more about its range of products, or call its helpline on the number provided. A video demonstration can also be seen by searching for ‘SmartWitness’ on YouTube.

FURTHER INFORMATION Tel: 0844 947 1000 sales@smartwitness.com www.smartwitness.co.uk

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0844 947 1000 HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS TO SUIT ALL VEHICLES AND APPLICATIONS SmartWitness is linked to Google Earth and Google Maps, so not only does the system provide positional data, it also shows exact locations and road conditions, signage and even road markings. Combined with the camera’s recording, fleet managers can analyse an incident involving one of a company’s vehicles to assess the road conditions, layout, signs and other traffic.

We work directly with motorists, haulage firms and motor fleet operators providing them with a vital enhancement to their overall risk management strategies.

Visit smartwitness.co.uk to learn more about its range of products, or call its helpline on 0844 947 1000.

A video demonstration can also be seen by searching for ‘SmartWitness’ on YouTube. smartwitness_gf86_2.indd 1

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DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net

21/07/2015 15:02

Road Safety

With fleet drivers being blamed for many of the road traffic accidents on UK roads, find out what fleet employees can change to reduce the risk of collision Fleet drivers are the cause of many road traffic accidents, according to studies by the Department for Transport and the Institute of Advanced Motorists Drive & Survive division (IAM Drive & Survive).

This guide outlines the measures fleet organisations should take to reduce the risk of such collisions so that their staff and other road users are protected, as well as their business from potential claims.

The recent study conducted by IAM Drive & Survive found that 100 per cent of fleet companies had an employee who had been responsible for an accident.

Meanwhile, the Department for Transport study found that despite fleet drivers being mostly to blame when involved in road traffic accidents, some were the victims of other people’s careless driving.

Who is to blame?

Company car drivers typically cause road traffic accidents when travelling at excessive speeds. These incidents often stem from drivers losing control of their vehicles – particularly on bends on rural roads – or overlooking other road users and cyclists.

Van and pick-up drivers have more accidents when they exceed the speed limit and lose control of their vehicles.

They also cause collisions when they fail to take account of a restricted view.

Their victims are usually motorcyclists.

These traffic accidents mostly occur because of illness and fatigue, which causes lorry drivers to become easily distracted while on the road. Mechanical problems such as braking and steering defects in Lorries also cause a number of collisions.

In cases where bus drivers are at fault, accidents stem from them following others too closely or failing to signal when departing

from bus stops. Incidents tend to involve cyclists, where the driver fails to see them or provide enough space when overtaking.

Taxi drivers are the only group who cause collisions due to ‘deliberate recklessness’. Most accidents occur when U-turns in the road or reversing are carried out without careful observation.

Drivers of emergency vehicles, such as police cars and ambulances, are often partly to blame for the collisions they are involved in. When responding to emergencies, they tend to exceed the speed limit. At times when other road users do not allow enough room for emergency vehicle drivers travelling at speed, both parties can be seen as responsible.

Why are fleets causing road traffic accidents?

Factors that have been found to cause collisions include time pressure and fatigue.

Fleet drivers exceed speed limits to meet targets and arrive at locations on time or prior to the deadline. Lorry drivers in particular, who have been working long shifts late at night, often drive feeling tired and they lack concentration and observation as a result.

Those drivers who are given a company vehicle to drive feel less responsible for any damages caused to it, so tend to drive more recklessly. The IAM Drive & Survive results found that while all fleet companies surveyed had admitted to at least one of their employees being responsible for an accident, it was also found that most companies failed to act following a driver’s failings in order to reduce the risk of future accidents.

Management responsibility – reducing accident risk and protecting the business Any collisions caused by fleet drivers have a financial impact of the business that they work for. With repairs and insurance premiums

Written by Rachel Campbell, Sheldon Davidson Solicitors

Reducing the risk of road traffic accidents and claims costing thousands, taking the time to assess and update any measures is essential in order to reduce the risk of future accidents.

Renewed driver training Make employees aware of the main causes of road collisions. Emphasise the hazards and factors that typically affect fleet drivers so that they can recognise what they need to concentrate on.

Reducing pressure on employees Extend deadlines and permit additional breaks during journeys to reduce the pressure felt by employees, which in turn can prevent accidents from occurring as a result of high speeds.

A strong employer-employee relationship with high communication levels can promote lower accident rates. Try introducing an open door policy, whereby drivers can report incidents and discuss them with you, so that they can recognise and learn from their mistakes.

Note to drivers Collisions on the road are sometimes unavoidable; the information in this guide can help you to understand the main causes of road traffic accidents in your field and the improvements you as a driver can make to reduce the risk of being involved in a collision.

Incidents on the road often lead to claims being made against those at fault. It is important to note that while your employer or their insurance company may provide you with a solicitor, you are not automatically tied to them and can choose your own legal specialist, should you wish to. !

FURTHER INFORMATION www.sds-solicitors.com

Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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An elite team of honest, dedicated and equal minded specialists ABS are proud to be supplying our Licence Checking service for the GreenFleet Arrive 'N' Drive event in Rockingham on 24th September 2015.

Since 1998, ABS have offered a cost effective, dedicated Fleet Management outsource service to some of the largest fleet companies within the UK. Services to include: End of contract Management, Contract Administration, Document Management and Storage, Early Terminations, In Case of Emergency Details Packs, Marketing Mailshots, MOT Management, Road Fund Licence Renewal, Schedules, Vehicle Key Storage, Vehicle Recalls, VOSA Checking, Welcome Pack Management and ABS provide Vehicle Safety Cameras.

In today’s technology driven world there is an expectation for data to be accessible quickly and in a digestible, intuitive manner. ABS have now taken their expertise and have developed a range of electronic fleet services including Telematics, Fines Management, Electronic Driver Licence Checking, Mobile Phone Blocking Software, RFL Manager and MOT Manager.

Mark Varden, Managing Director says “The key to ABS’ success is open communication, diligent hard work, an extended knowledgebase and a wealth of experience. This enables ABS to perform all progressive and bespoke services thoroughly.”

ABS Driver Check© is a web based system that has a direct link to the DVLA database. This enables ABS to quickly and accurately perform bulk driving licence verification and single real time checks. The system automatically analyses the information received and associates a status to each driver. Licences are automatically rechecked depending on the driver status. Manual checks can be performed, affording closer monitoring of high risk drivers.

ABS Telematics© utilises both GPS and telecommunications to give you an overview of detailed fleet information, including location, driver behaviour, asset state and speed exceptions etc.

This takes place in real time, delivering an instant snapshot of the exact position of your fleet and keeps you connected with them at any time.

Our fully integrated solution means the hardware in your assets are communicating constantly with our software backend and keeping track of your fleet data. It is fully hosted and delivered via the Cloud. This facilitates exceptional availability, speed and data security with minimal burden on your existing IT infrastructure. Our software supports multiple browser options as well as iPhone/Android and iPad/Tablet access.

ABS Telematics© can be integrated with ABS Driver Check© and ABS Fine Manager© to offer a full fleet analysis, using real time data to create reports.

ABS Fleetsafer© puts you in control of how your fleet drivers use their mobile phones whilst out on the road. This easy to use software enables you to silence calls and messages to your employees’ phones while they are driving. As the vehicle begins to move the mobile phone, or other communication devices, is automatically disabled ensuring safe, legal and responsible use of mobile devices while driving.

Research has shown that using a hands-free phone while driving is more likely to lengthen reaction times than having 80mg of alcohol in the bloodstream, the drink-drive limit in England and Wales.

ABS offer business and process analysis, ensuring we help deliver lean, cost effective solutions, which utilise the latest technology.

ABS are accredited in both UKAS BS EN ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems and UKAS BS EN ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management Systems.

Arrive ‘n’ Drive 2015

Sponsored by

Once again Kumho Tyre will be demonstrating its ground-breaking new tyres in the wet handling area at Rockingham

High-profile electric vehicles on show and available to drive around Rockingham’s oval circuit include the BMW i3 and the Tesla Model S

The great and the green The GreenFleet Arrive ’n’ Drive rocks up at Rockingham on September 24, promising even more low-emission vehicles and technologies for fleet managers to put through their paces. Over 100 types of vehicle will be on show, with electric and range-extended technology featuring prominently plus another chance to challenge GreenFleet’s resident eco-driving hero, the Sprig The pressure to reduce fuel costs is nothing new and remains the biggest challenge facing commercial fleet managers, followed by fuel price volatility.

Finding cost-effective ways to green a fleet, increasing driver productivity and safety are all high up on the agenda. Any, or indeed all of the above can be addressed with a visit to the 2015 GreenFleet Arrive ‘n’ Drive, sponsored by RAC Business Solutions. Taking place on September 24 at Rockingham in Corby, Northants, the Arrive ‘n’ Drive gives attendees the opportunity to get hands on with the latest

low and ultra-low emission fleet vehicles.

Rockingham Motor Speedway is a modern venue and Europe’s fastest racing circuit. Hosting a full range of track days, testing, driving experiences and motorsport, Rockingham is also the only intermediate oval in the UK, and is unique in its quadrilateral shape.

The biggestacing ges f challen rcial fleet commes who want r managen their fleets to gree addressed at Wet grip can be e ‘n’ Drive The track’s wet handling Arriv 15 area can used to simulate 20 a variety of driving conditions including ice, rain and slippery wet leaves. The area is designed to give drivers a greater understanding

of the latest ABS, traction control and crash mitigating technologies, and the way that they affect vehicle control. This year, Kumho Tyre will be demonstrating safety techniques in the wet grip facility while showcasing its ground-breaking new tyres.

Euro 6 From September this year, all new petrol and diesel cars and small vans must be compliant with the Euro 6 emission standards. For diesel engines, Euro 6 dramatically drops the permitted level of NOx emitted down to a maximum of 80mg/km, compared to the 180mg/km level that was required for the previous Euro 5 version. The limit for NOx from petrol cars remains at 60mg/km.

For larger vans, the standard will be introduced in September 2016, but " Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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The new Peugeot Partner will be on show

The GreenFleet Award-winning Mitsubishi Outlander will be on show and out on the track

# knock-on effects will soon mean better fuel economy and lower CO2. With this is mind, visitors to the Arrive ’N’ Drive will be able to peruse the latest Euro 6 offerings from all the major manufacturers.

Cars on show Certain to generate sustained interest at the event is the new Jaguar XE (below), the 2.0-litre diesel engine version of which has official figures of 74.3mpg and average CO2 emissions of 99 grams per kilometre.

BMW will present the jaw-dropping hybrid i8 ‘supercar’, which can go from 0 to 60mph in just 4.4 seconds and has a top speed of 256km/h (159mph).

Ford will have its eagerly anticipated Mondeo Hybrid available for test drive, which the manufacturer states can achieve 67.3mpg and 99g/km of CO2 from its 2.0-litre petrol engine.

The Tesla Model S is sure to be an extremely popular choice for visitors to the Arrive ’n’ Drive. During the first half of 2015, the Model S ranked as the top selling plug-in electric car in The new 2.0-litre diesel Jaguar XE has CO2 emissions of just 99g/km

Arrive ‘n’ Drive 2015

Sponsored by

The Audi A3 e-tron plug-in hybrid will be able to drive at GreenFleet Arrive ‘n’ Drive

Employ eco-driving techniques in order to Beat the Sprig

the US with around 12,000 units sold.

What Audi claims will be a significant step towards its vision to be CO2 neutral is the introduction of the A3 e-tron hybrid, which will also be available to drive along with the GreenFleet Award-winning Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV SUV hybrid and offerings from Mini, Toyota, Lexus, Volkswagen Commercials, Skoda, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Jeep, Citroen and Peugeot.

Beat the Sprig When you have the cleanest possible vehicles, further economies can be realised by driving them in a fuel efficient manner.

Visitors to this year’s Arrive ’n’ Drive will once again be able to put their eco-driving prowess to the test against GreenFleet’s green driving hero, the Sprig.

A 10 per cent improvement can

save thousands per year on fuel. The vehicle used in last years’ Beat the Sprig challenge had an official fuel consumption figure of 78mpg, but after employing frugal driving techniques, the Sprig managed to set the benchmark at 87mpg. After a brief session of instruction in driver training and telematics, last years’ winner achieved a staggering 99mpg, a massive increase of model’s official fuel economy figure.

For 2015, visitors will be able to challenge the Sprig in both cars and vans from Peugeot. Each vehicle will be fitted with the latest telematics solution from technology partner Masternaut which alerts the driver to harsh braking and acceleration and provides constant MPG figures.

Workshops The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP) will be staging the Clean & Green Van workshop, which will includes research "

to Visitors Drive n’ Arrive ‘ e again will onco pit their t be able ing prowess eco-driv eco-driving against ro the he Sprig

Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

39

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EV

How to get to Rockingham From the south From the M1 – Exit the M1 at J15 and follow Northampton A45 then Kettering A43. Join the A14 at J6 and go westbound for one junction to join the A43/ A6003 Corby.

From the M11 – Take the A14 westbound towards Kettering.

Exit at junction 7 to join A43/ A6003 Corby then follow the directions from the A14 shown.

From the north Exit the M1 at J19 and join the A14 eastbound. Exit at junction 7 to join A43/A6003 Corby then follow the directions from the A14 shown below.

From the A14 From the A14 at J7 join the A43 then take the A6003 to Corby/ Oakham. Follow the A6003 into Corby and turn left onto Phoenix Parkway.

Sat Nav If using sat nav, Rockingham’s postcode is NN17 5AF, however please also enter Mitchell Road as a destination if possible, or follow signposts when getting closer to the venue, as many sat nav systems will direct drivers to the rear of site.

# from its Low Emission Van Guide.

Undertaken in partnership with Transport for London and the Royal Borough of Greenwich, the guide can assist van operators in reducing emissions and covers battery electrics, PHEVs, biodiesel, natural gas/methane and LPG. This session will be supported by Mitsubishi dealership Vic Young.

The Freight Transport Association will deliver a Van Excellence workshop, which details the Van Excellence Certificate of Driver Competence, covering pre-use vehicle checks, fitness to drive, safe vehicle loading, green driving and accident/breakdown procedures. Those responsible for public sector vehicle procurement will be able to hear a presentation from the Crown Commercial Service, which details its purchasing frameworks, including the latest on fuel cards.

Telematics and fleet management software The Arrive ’n’ Drive has always been a great place to check out the latest telematics and fleet management software. This year, Route Monkey’s route optimisation products will once again feature. These can schedule and optimise conventional, electric and ultra low carbon fleets and deliver a fast return on investment through reducing road miles, thereby lowering emissions.

Chevin Fleet Solutions’ web-based products enable the intelligent management of fleet data, through advanced processes and clever automation. Speed and rev limiting products can be seen from Autokontrol, while Telogis’s telematics, compliance and navigation software is available fully integrated with trucks from Ford, Volvo, GM and ISUZU. Magenta Technology can help solve complex scheduling problems in real time, and its transportation and logistics software will make an Arrive ’n’ Drive debut.

Electric Avenue Electric Avenue is a designated EV test circuit where visitors can drive the latest EV offerings, including the Nissan e-NV200

and Leaf, VW e-Golf, BMW i3, Tesla Model S, Peugeot Partner electric and iOn. Hybrids on hand include the Audi A3 e-tron and VW Golf GTE, and organisations that operate recharging technology and infrastructure will be heavily featured, with advice available throughout the day from Rolec, EDF Energy and Siemens.

Leasing Public sector specialists Automotive Leasing, part of LeasePlan, has delivered fleet funding and management solutions for over 25 years, and played a huge part in introducing electric vehicles to fleets in Scotland. Through AlphaElectric, business mobility specialist Alphabet serves the public and private sectors, and through its EV consultancy service AlphaElectric, has applied some clever thinking to help answer questions on how to incorporate EVs seamlessly into fleets. Green vehicle hire specialist Green Motion will also be on hand to discuss its latest rental options.

Arrive ‘n’ Drive 2015

Sponsored by

Don’t forget your licence (details) In order to test drive vehicles, visitors will need to provide their license details to Admin Business Solutions, which will be completing all licence checks at the start of the day. The company supplies some of the largest car leasing and car manufacturers in the UK, and is an intermediary for the DVLA. Other organisations involved include the National Accident & Repair Group, a UK leading expert in accident and repair.

The GreenFleet Arrive ’n’ Drive provides a fantastic opportunity to network with other professionals and exchange ideas. Over the last eight years, it has become a key diary date for those tasked with fleet efficiency.

Register now or miss it at your peril. !

FURTHER INFORMATION Register at tinyurl.com/oumm9j3 A full list of exhibitors can be found at tinyurl.com/pm8u8nd Email: dan.lee@psigroupltd.co.uk Tel: 020 8532 5732.

As well as test driving the latest battery electric vans, Arrive ‘n’ Drive also gives fleet managers the chance to attend van workshops by both the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership and the Freight Transport Association

One new arrival at Arrive ‘n’ Drive is the Ford Mondeo Hybrid

Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

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Advertisement Feature

Licence checking crisis?

What crisis?

It’s now over a month since the abolition of the paper counterpart and it comes as no surprise that the initial howls of protest caused by crashes to the system and vociferous complaints about queues at local car hire offices has died down to a low background grumble. Richard Brown, managing director at Licence Check observes the really interesting feedback and evidence that suggests the changes are not as bad as originally thought.

Change tends to be an unwelcome guest, particularly within industries that are already heavily regulated and working to tight margins. So it comes as no surprise that the transport industry is taking it all in its stride and simply getting on with it.

The same would seem to be true of the vehicle rental industry. Each has adopted a strategy and its business as usual.

There had always been the possibility of an increased rate of churn as customers decided to move from a fully managed service to the ‘free’ service using the DVLA Share Driver Licence facility, but until the service actually went live, it was difficult to guess the numbers likely to migrate. There were some cancellations – but surprisingly few. We have also had a number of these customers return to the fully managed service.

A case in point is Car-Ology which collects and delivers vehicles all over the country.

The company tried the Share Driver Licence

“There is no facility for quick rechecks and the driver’s address isn’t confirmed – something that we consider vital. Add to this the lack of detailed reporting, timely notifications and the delay as paper was passed from person to person and it simply doesn’t work for us. It isn’t a commercial service we can use. We need to check our driver’s licences at a time that is convenient for us and Licence Check allows us to do just that.”

This highlights some of the reasons why using an intermediary such as Licence Check actually makes sound economic and practical sense for a large number of companies. Whilst the lure of a slightly inconvenient but no cost option for a one-off or occasional driving licence check may prove overwhelmingly attractive to some organisations, it needs to be stressed that we don’t just provide a quick ‘fire and forget’ driving licence check. We provide a

We provide a fully managed service with full reporting, timely reminders of important expiration dates in a securely-hosted environment function but found it wasn’t suitable.

According to managing director Marc Messer: “The DVLA service isn’t really designed for commercial purposes. The 72-hour limitation means that our drivers who access the DVLA View Driver Licence portal to secure their unique code on a Friday have to be pushed through the checks on Monday causing an administrative backlog in the office.

42

fully managed service with full reporting, timely reminders of important expiration dates in a secure hosted environment. It’s easy to forget that the duty of care owed to employees and other road users isn’t discharged simply because a record has been checked on the DVLA database. There’s an ongoing requirement to monitor drivers and take action where necessary. So there’s a

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net

back office overhead that should be factored into the decision to use the ‘free’ service that actually comes with this hidden cost.

Customers benefit from a level of expertise and after-sales support that simply isn’t available from the government service. Earlier in the week we had Alan Seyfi from Falco Construction in London call about an incident in which their driver had been presented with a fine and penalty points by the police for pulling a supposedly overloaded trailer behind a van. The company had gone to great lengths to check that all its drivers had received the proper training, had the correct categories on their driving licence and that the weights being towed were well within the permitted limits. The police officer was adamant that this required a ‘C+E’ licence and not the ‘B+E’ category actually presented by the driver. We were able to intervene and provide an opinion on this together with the name of an industry expert. This was in turn presented to the police who immediately withdrew the fixed penalty notice. So a good result for our client and their driver.

So are we surprised about the fact that there hasn’t actually been a mass exodus of clients to Share Driver Licence? Not really. The reasons why they decided to use our service in the first place haven’t actually changed. If anything the abolition of the counterpart should encourage a number of companies to dispassionately review their own processes and work out the real cost of using Share Driver Licence now the counterpart has gone. The free service may be costing a lot more than they think. !

FURTHER INFORMATION To find out more contact us: www.licencecheck.co.uk (0845) 226 9686

Fuel Cards

A fuel card guide for fleet managers It is crucial for fleets to monitor fuel purchases in order to manage and control fuel consumption. Fuel cards can provide good quality data on fuel purchases, says the Energy Saving Trust Transport Team

A fuel card looks like a credit card, and works in a similar way. It allows drivers to charge the cost of fuel to an account which is settled, usually monthly in arrears, by their employer. Unlike a credit card, interest is not applied to purchases. However, most fuel card suppliers charge an annual fee.

Fuel cards are increasingly chip and PIN protected and can be embossed to specific company requirements. At the point of purchase, the transaction is carried out in the same way as with any card. The vehicle registration number and mileage are recorded.

The consolidated fuel card invoice which organisations receive shows information including the date, time and place of purchase, the fuel type and transaction value. The fuel card report significantly reduces administration costs compared to other methods of tracking fuel purchases and eliminates the need for receipts. In addition to the detailed invoice most fuel card suppliers will be able to provide further management reporting.

for the fuel purchases on a regular basis every month. You can set limits for fuel card usage, for example to mandate drivers to purchase fuel at supermarkets rather than motorway service stations. Some fuel card providers offer fixed prices while others offer pump price charges. In the latter case, if they cover a wide network of filling stations, this gives you and your drivers the flexibility to select those with the cheapest pump prices.

Secondly, fuel cards allow you to accurately separate the costs of business and private mileage. Using a ‘fuel at cost’ approach in conjunction with fuel cards will enable actual private mileage fuel costs to be recovered from drivers. This is a better solution than using a fixed rate per mile as it encourages efficient driving during both business and private use of the vehicle and is the fairest way of determining the cost of private mileage.

Taking control A fuel card can provide a simple, convenient and secure way of taking control of your fuel expenditure and improving efficiency.

There are five general areas where fuel cards can help. Firstly, fuel cards can help reduce the costs of fuel purchases. Fuel card reporting allows the tracking of fuel spend, the type of fuel purchased and the purchase location. This can help to encourage the use of lower cost sites and the purchase of standard rather than premium fuels.

Fuel cards give you the opportunity to better manage the cash flow for fuel since you pay

Fuel efficiency Additionally, fuel cards provide information which enables a reduction in fuel consumption. Fuel cards can help to raise awareness regarding fuel efficiency in your organisation through the detailed invoices and other management reports.

By monitoring individual fuel consumption figures, individual driver performance can be compared across the organisation.

Appropriate measures, such as eco-driving training, can be implemented to promote more fuel efficient driving. Fuel cards will help you to monitor the effectiveness of training.

Written by The Energy Saving Trust Transport Team

A d fuel carde a i v can pro nvenient co simple, cure way of and se ntrol of your co taking expenditure Moreover, fuel cards g fuel n i reduce security risks. v o r p Fuel card technology and im iency offers benefits in terms effic

of security and functionality versus alternative methods of payment for fuel such as petty cash. Cards can be embossed with the driver’s name or vehicle registration number and the company name providing further protection against fraudulent use. Detailed information on all fuel transactions reduces the potential for employee abuse and provides greater control over legitimate vehicle usage.

Finally, fuel cards can aid in the minimisation of administration. Administrative time, cost and effort is reduced by the comprehensive fuel invoices with itemised transactions.

Issues relating to lost purchase receipts are eliminated and there is no need for a petty cash fund for fuel purchases with the inherent security problems such payment methods raise. Fuel cards provide transparency on fuel spend and fuel consumption; cards can be allocated to individuals, vehicles or cost centres.

The consolidated invoice and associated management reports make calculating VAT much easier and helps to ensure that claims for VAT are made in full. You are able to access your online account 24/7 where you can check fuel transactions, download detailed reports and invoices.

Fuel card considerations Fuel cards record excellent data, reduce risk and save management and administrative time. Like other payment cards, the choice is " Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

43

OFFSET YOUR FLEET’S CARBON EMISSIONS? MAKE IT PART OF YOUR ONE WORLD.

ONE CUSTOMER. ONE CARD. ONE FLEET SOLUTION. Imagine a fuel card which also allows you to offset your fleet’s carbon emissions.

Introducing Allstar One. A bespoke management solution shaped entirely around your fleet’s needs, no matter how big or small.

As well as the ability to offset your fleet’s carbon emissions through the Allstar Ecopoint scheme, you’ll also have access to the UK’s largest fuel network of 7,600 fuel sites, of which 1,780 are discounted diesel sites. You’ll also benefit from the added security of Chip & PIN technology.

Choose to use your card just for fuel or enhance your card with the ability to pay for glass repair and replacement, M6 Toll, servicing, roadside repair, tyres and much more, whilst enjoying significant savings. What’s more, because all transactions are on one, consolidated, HMRC compliant invoice, you’ll be able to dramatically reduce your administrative burden.

To find out more about how to shape your One world, call us today on 0845 619 6322 or visit www.allstarcard.co.uk

one

# broad. Most of them offer more or less similar benefits but some present slightly different features that could possibly better meet your needs. When choosing a fuel card, ensure you understand your organisation’s needs as this will help you select the appropriate provider. Factors to consider include the areas in which your drivers usually travel and where you are based.

It is also important to consider how many vehicles you operate and what type of fuel they require. Additionally, the current average monthly fuel cost is imperative to analyse.

Based on this information, you can then select the features that you require. The key areas to consider include the price of fuel: some providers offer discounted fuel prices, but usually only to large fleets. It is more common for the forecourt pump price to be charged.

Moreover, network coverage is significant: some cards are restricted to only one brand of service station; others can be used at a range of different locations including supermarkets. Management reporting: the level of reporting you receive will vary between fuel card suppliers. Consider the requirements for reporting within your organisation and the detail required and restricting purchases: it is possible to restrict what is purchased on the card, but this may vary between providers. !

FURTHER INFORMATION www.energysavingtrust.org.uk transportadvice@est.org.uk

The Fuel card agreement supports fleet managers in managing and controlling costs, providing an easy method of payment for fuel and detailed management information for efficient fleet management.

The improved efficiency of managing vehicle fleets actively supports the government’s austerity and green agendas. The agreement is also open to customers that do not necessarily have a large fleet of vehicles but would like to introduce fuel cards as an efficient way to pay for motor vehicle fuel used on official business.

The framework offers a simple method of payment for vehicle fuel, purchased at retail outlets throughout the UK and Europe via a fuel card for purchase of fuel at forecourts or by bunkering at designated bunker sites.

The detailed management information supplied by card providers assists you in managing your fleet more efficiently and effectively. Value for money with deals secured with a range of suppliers, providing choice and flexibility. Further information on the full range of services offered by each supplier is detailed in the suite of documents available for download in the documents tab.

Agreed savings on the Fuel Card agreement are rebate, however, there

are other areas where customers can look to make savings based on their current profile. Examples include but not limited to payment terms, review of dormant cards, preferred forecourt and reduce number of transactions.

As the contracting authority, CCS will maintain and develop the supplier relationship at a framework level. This includes monitoring the suppliers’ performance and collating management information across the frameworks. The Financial Services team will continue, throughout the lifetime of the framework agreements, to seek out opportunities to maximise savings opportunities for customers, ensuring that any developments keep pace with changes in the market and industry innovations.

We will also support customers in the resolution of contractual matters including intervention with Fuel Card providers if necessary.

Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

Fuel Cards

The Fuel Card Framework

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WE KEEP INNOVATING SO YOU KEEP GOING.

Whatever the size of your fleet, our Passionate Experts are committed to developing solutions that will help you manage it more efficiently. They’ve got 100 years of innovation behind them – and that’s a tradition they are proud to carry on. So you can be sure our euroShell Card benefits will help give you the fleet management control, convenience, security and savings you need.

YOUR PARTNER ON THE ROAD. www.euroshell.co.uk 0800 7 31 31 31

HOW TO HELP YOUR DRIVERS WIN THE FIGHT AGAINST FRAUD. Top tips for drivers and fleet managers. How can they keep your fuel card safe: ● Don’t write the PIN on the back of your cards ● Don’t file the original PIN Mailer letter (keep it in a separate register, locked and safe, and destroy your original PIN mailer) ● Don’t store your card and PIN together ● Don’t choose a PIN that ends in the registration number of a vehicle ● Don’t leave your card in your vehicle, keep it on your person all times ● Keep your card in a safe place under lock when not in use ● Enter the PIN yourself when filling up at Shell stations, and ensure no one is watching over your shoulder when entering the PIN ● After using your card, always make sure you have the correct card back in your possession ● Report a lost or stolen card immediately by phone ● Block your card if a secured area was compromised by a break-in; even if the card remains in your possession ● Tell drivers how to block a card and make sure they always have the correct phone number ● Change card and code when the driver stops working for the company.

About Shell The euroShell Card provides our business customers with a secure and efficient way to buy fuels and access a range of other great services. With over 50 years of fuel card expertise and one of the largest networks of stations in the world, a euroShell Fuel Card can give you greater control, convenience and security.

You’ll see real benefits to your business as soon as your drivers start using their euroShell Fuel Cards. Discounts, cost control and reduced administration costs all help to create a more efficient, profitable business. We can help you manage your fuel spend so you can concentrate on what you do best; managing your business. We offer one of the largest networks of sites across Europe, so wherever your drivers go they’ll never be far from a Shell service station.

Security is a key feature of our Fuels Cards. With customizable card usage controls and dedicated fraud teams, you’ll always enjoy peace of mind – as well as quicker, more convenient fuel card management. We know that fraud poses a major threat to your business, which is why we make sure first-class security features come as standard with every Shell Fuel Card.

Our dedicated fraud detection teams help identify suspicious activity in seconds – meaning you can use Shell Fuel Cards with peace of mind. In 2011, our dedicated fraud teams saved our customers $4 million through proactive fraud prevention – we’re always on the lookout for suspicious behaviour. With Shell Card Online, you control exactly how and where your cards can be used, stopping fraudulent use before it happens.

Every single card transaction is monitored, giving you a clear and transparent view of exactly what’s happening. Shell’s new Real Time Detection (RTD) system filters up to 160 million transactions a year, alerting you as soon as suspicious activity occurs, preventing additional damage to your business. And Shell immediately accepts liability after misuse is reported.

Every Shell Fuel Card is protected by an individual card PIN, adding a further layer of security. Every card can also be embossed with an individual vehicle number or driver’s name, helping encourage your drivers to look after cards carefully.

Customise each card for use nationally or internationally. You can limit the type of items (fuel/shop/car wash etc) that can be bought on each card. Order new cards or cancel existing ones in minutes, making it easier than ever to prevent lost or stolen card usage. As soon as we receive your cancellation confirmation in writing, Shell accepts liability on all subsequent transactions.

Our dedicated cards fraud teams are on the alert for irregular behaviour, contacting you the moment we think there might be a problem. CCTV is in full operation at many Shell stations, providing a serious deterrent to fraud and proving invaluable in identifying perpetrators.

Road Test

UK success for turbocharged Corsa

Down load th Green e F app.g leet app at reenfl eet.n for mo et re ima ge conten s and t

As concerns over diesel grow, an expanding selection of cars are now available with small-capacity turbocharged petrol engines. GreenFleet samples the direct injection and turbocharged 1.0-litre Vauxhall Corsa The recently-refreshed Vauxhall Corsa is doing good business in the UK and is continuing the success of the previous model. Just like that car, it is a regular fixture in the UK’s top 10 best-selling cars chart, recording a second place during June 2015 behind the ever popular Ford Fiesta. The latest model brought a raft of exterior, interior and powertrain changes upon its introduction late last year.

A revised diesel offering, the CDTi (GreenFleet, issue 82) boasts CO2 emissions of 87g/km, but with the current anti-diesel climate, there are clean petrol versions of the new Corsa available, too. The turbocharged 1.0-litre model tested here, for example.

new Corsa’s 999cc three-cylinder engine features both a turbocharger and direct injection. Meeting the latest Euro 6 standards, emissions are 100g/km. Vauxhall is proud of the fact that the unit was the first ‘production three-cylinder engine on the market with a sump-mounted counter rotating balancer shaft’.

That helps make the engine smoother and resonance-free. Vauxhall has also engineered various measures with the aim to reduce the sound for improved refinement, and we’re pleased to say it’s succeeded. While there is some noise from the little engine when accelerating, it’s mechanically pleasing. When cruising, there’s very little noise at all.

Continuously-variable valve timing ensures good performance.

Maximum power of 98bhp is produced

The 1.0-litre e is ngin turbo e mated to ely exclusiv eed manual a six-sp ox, which gearb d precise n is slick a feel in

Direct injection and a turbocharger Downsized turbocharged petrol engines are one way to lower emissions yet also produce a good level of performance. The

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DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net

at 3,700-6,000rpm, while torque of 125lb ft (170Nm) is developed from 1,800-3,700rpm. Only 15lb ft (20Nm) down on the CDTi’s torque figure, the turbocharger helps the engine produce strong low-down punch and the car doesn’t feel out of its depth on motorways. Even though it has a small engine, there is pick-up in sixth gear and so the car has no problem keeping up with fast traffic flow. There is a word of warning, though: put your foot down too often and the fuel economy suffers.

Being an ‘Ecotec’ unit, Vauxhall’s Start/Stop system comes as standard.

Quoted fuel economy is 65.7mpg, although in ‘real-world’ use, we achieved an average of 50.6. That may not sound very high, but, from a petrol engine that at times encourages ‘press-on’ driving, it’s commendable.

An ‘Eco’ button limits selected vehicle settings for even greater economy.

The ‘Eco Drive Assist’ function displays relevant economy information such as

Near top-of-the-range status In SRi trim, the new Corsa looks very smart.

Years ago, an SRi Vauxhall was probably more sporty than a similarly-badged car in 2015, but there are nods to sportiness as befits the Corsa SRi’s near top-of-the-range status. Black 16-inch wheels contrast well with the Flame Red paintwork and front fog lights lend an aggressive touch to the exterior. Inside, a red dashboard strip evokes more go-faster feelings, as do the aluminium-capped pedals and three-spoke multifunction steering wheel.

Other equipment highlights include a heated windscreen, a 7-inch touchscreen IntelliLink infotainment system with DAB radio/Bluetooth/Aux-in/USB and iPod controls, rain-sensitive windscreen wipers, automatic headlights, cruise control and the all-important multifunction trip computer – ideal for watching those economy figures. It’s a lot of kit for £13,605, but value has long been one area where the Corsa has excelled. The interior really is improved over the previous model with both real and received quality taking steps up.

Lower Benefit In Kind tax Just as with the CDTi model, the latest Corsa doesn’t look or feel like an ‘economy’ car, even if the fuel economy returns and values point to it potentially being one.

The 1.0-litre petrol version offers almost as much performance as the diesel variant and at 100g/km of CO2, is the lowest-emitting petrol engine in the new Corsa range. In SRi trim, it costs £920 less to buy than the diesel version, too, and sits one per cent lower when it comes to Benefit in Kind tax. Its arch-rival in the UK sales charts, the Ford Fiesta, matches the Corsa 1.0T when it comes to fuel economy and CO2 emissions when compared with similar 1.0T Ecoboost-engined variants. The small Ford loses out to the Vauxhall on price, though, with the Fiesta Zetec’s £14,195 list price more expensive than that asked for the Corsa.

Potential buyers would have to weigh up the price savings against the potential fuel economy losses when it comes to petrol

ENGINE:

999cc, three-cylinder petrol

CO2:

Road Test

optimum gear change shift points, current economy as well as fuel consumption stats.

The 1.0-litre engine is exclusively mated to a six-speed manual gearbox, which is slick and precise in feel. Just like the diesel version, the 1.0-litre Corsa is fun to drive, with nicely-weighted steering and a nimble nature. The steering system has been specifically set up for UK roads, while the suspension comfortably deals with most surfaces thrown at it. A switchable ‘City’ steering mode reduces the amount of effort when the car is in urban areas up to 30mph. It’s a very resolved and sorted car to drive, with an added dash of ease of use.

Vauxhall Corsa SRi 1.0 90 S/S ecoFLEX 100g/km

MPG (combined):

65.7

NOx:

0.027g/km

VED:

Band A, £0

BIK:

15%

PRICE (OTR):

£13,605 (including VAT)

versus diesel models. However, should you choose to plump for the petrol-engined Corsa 1.0T, as a quiet, refined and able small car, it comes highly recommended. !

FURTHER INFORMATION www.vauxhall.co.uk

The new Corsa’s interior is a step-up from the previous model’s, with a 7-inch touchscreen adding much-needed connectivity options

The refreshed Vauxhall Corsa is a big-seller in the UK. SRi models ride on black 16-inch alloy wheels

ecoFLEX models receive a Start/Stop system.

1.0-litre turbocharged engine is the cleanest petrol unit in the new Corsa range

Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

49

Road Test

Inter-Stellar

Written by Richard Gooding

The previous Hyundai i40 helped change the perceptions of the South Korean company in Europe upon its arrival in 2011. Richard Gooding finds that the latest version of its mid-size flagship car can only build on the 100,000 sales of its predecessor Hyundai has gone from strength to strength since the arrival of its first mass-produced South Korean car, the Pony, in 1975. Hyundai’s first mid-sized saloon, the Stellar, arrived in 1983. The front-engined rear-wheel drive car was based on Ford Cortina underpinnings and was available with four-cylinder engines allied to manual and automatic gearboxes. 1988 saw the Sonata replace the Stellar, bringing six-cylinder engines and more luxurious fittings.

Hyundai retired the Sonata in 2010, unveiling its new mid-sized family car, the i40, in 2011.

With a choice of both saloon and estate body styles and with Hyundai’s new ‘fluidic sculpture’ styling, it looked much sharper than its predecessors. Refreshed in December 2014, the new i40 arrived in the UK in April 2015.

Sleek and sculpted lines Developed in Europe, the South Korean company says that its D-segment car has played a positive part in altering both private and fleet customers’ perceptions of the brand itself. Over 100,000 i40s have been sold since its introduction, and it has earned itself a five per cent European market share in its segment. Enhanced for 2015, the new Hyundai i40 is based on its predecessor.

On looks alone, the i40

Tourer (estate) deserves to do well. Sleek and sculpted lines make it look more European that some of its Far Eastern competition.

A hexagonal front grille flanked by LED daytime running lights brings German rivals to mind, and the black and silver 17-inch alloy wheels on SE Nav models add a further stylish touch. A few weeks before we had the i40 on test with us, a new Volkswagen Passat Estate had passed through our hands, but we’d say the sharply-creased new i40 Tourer is arguably even better looking.

New-found confidence The new i40 builds on the ‘new’ Hyundai image, brought in with the latest i10 (GreenFleet, issue 77), and like that car, the interior brings a new-found confidence to the South Korean’s mid-sized challenger.

High-quality plastics are notable by their presence, but while not quite equalling the German brands for ultimate prestige, the new i40’s cabin is a particularly nice and comfortable place to be. Wide seats are armchair comfortable, while a brushed chrome strip across the full width of the dashboard adds to the ambience. A 553-litre boot means the i40 Tourer is one of more accommodating estate cars on the market.

A lue good van, the itio propos Tourer is new i40han worthy t a more titor to the compe stablished more e ands br

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DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net

High-gloss finishes lend the interior an upmarket air, while a solid build makes the big Hyundai feel built to last. The new i40 comes well-equipped with all the niceties you’d expect in a car of this class. In SE Nav specification, infotainment functions are provided by the touchscreen system which includes a good-sounding seven speaker audio system with DAB/USB/CD/ MP3/aux-in capability as well as Bluetooth and voice recognition controls. A heated steering wheel and seats, dual-zone climate control, and a driver’s seat with electric adjustment and lumbar support all help the i40’s upmarket aspirations, too.

Three driving modes An easy-to-use satellite-navigation system also comes as standard, as do steering wheel audio and telephone controls. Auto wipers, lights and rear-view mirror plus follow-me-home lights are further high-tech flashes of convenience. A parking camera and parking guidance system is useful for city driving. Continuing the safety theme, seven airbags, active head restraints, ABS, Brake Assist/Emergency Stop Signal and Vehicle Stability Management systems are all included to keep the i40 out of trouble.

A 1,685cc four-cylinder diesel engine powered our SE Nav CRDi Blue Drive test car. A

ENGINE:

1,685cc, four-cylinder diesel

CO2:

129g/km

MPG (combined):

0.052g/km

VED:

Band D, £110 23%

PRICE (OTR):

quotes a combined cycle fuel return figure of 56.5mpg, although we recorded 48.1mpg in ‘real-world’ conditions. On the move, the new i40 is very quiet and refined. Only wind noise from the base of the A-pillars can be heard at speed. A comfortable ride soaks up all manner of imperfections incredibly well, and the car is a very refined motorway companion.

Best-ever half-year sales The SE Nav is a newly-introduced trim level which comes with the arrival of the 2015 i40.

The range starts with S, rising through SE Nav, SE Nav Business models, topping off with Premium-spec cars. With on-the-road prices from £19,600 to £28,850, at £23,650 the SE Nav Blue Drive sits in the middle of that range.

Costing £110 per year to tax after the first year, the i40 Tourer CRDi Blue Drive SE Nav offers a Benefit in Kind rate of 23 per cent.

An equivalent £26,335 Ford Mondeo Titanium 2.0 Duratorq TDCi 150 Estate with Powershift Auto gearbox might eke out a few more miles from every gallon, but will cost low-rate tax payers more. The £28,390 Volkswagen

56.5

NOx: BIK:

maximum power output of 139bhp produced at 4,000rpm and 251b ft (340Nm) of torque between 1,700-2,500rpm is enough to propel the i40 Tourer to 62mph from rest in 12.0 seconds and on to a top speed of 124mph. Our 129g/km test car was specified with the seven-speed dual-clutch semi-automatic gearbox which can’t quite match the lower emissions of the six-speed manual model, which records 114g/km. As well as steering wheel-mounted paddles, three switchable drive modes – Normal, Eco and Sport – are available to choose from. We spent most of the week in ‘Eco’ mode, which changes gear earlier for optimal economical performance.

Blue Drive signifies Hyundai’s cleanest models, and an Intelligent Stop & Go (ISG) stop-start system is standard on SE Nav 1.7 CRDi models.

It’s an interesting system. Come to a halt and keep your foot on the brake and the car cuts out after a short time. The moment you release the pedal, the car starts again. There is no need to slot into neutral or put the electronic handbrake on. The clever and well-thought out system makes economical driving easy. Hyundai

Road Test

Hyundai i40 Tourer SE Nav 1.7 CRDi Blue Drive DCT

Sculpted lines and bold styling flourishes make the new i40 look more European than some of its contemporaries

£23,650 (including VAT, £24,180 as tested)

Passat SE Business 2.0 TDI meanwhile, sits one VED band lower with fewer emissions.

Hyundai sells 5,000 i40s per year, and around 3,500 of those are Tourer models. Around 40 per cent of those are expected to be in SE Nav trim as tested here. Hyundai has recently recorded its best-ever half-year sales in Europe, with 237,221 registrations in the first six months of this year. On the evidence of both the New Generation i10 and the new i40 tested here, Hyundai’s new product offensive is driving the sales leap. A five-year unlimited mileage warranty as standard – which includes five years of roadside assistance and five years of annual vehicle health checks – could be another reason the South Korean company is doing well. A practical, comfortable and good value proposition, the new i40 Tourer is a more than worthy competitor to the more established brands, and we can only see Hyundai’s sales improving still further. !

FURTHER INFORMATION www.hyundai.co.uk

Down load th Green e F app.g leet app at reenfl eet.n for mo et re ima ge conten s and t

The interior of the new i40 is a comfortable, practical and highly specified place to be The new Hyundai i40 Tourer range starts at £20,850. LED daytime running lights and hexagonal grille recall German rivals

Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

51

Road Test

EV peasy

Written by Richard Gooding

Kia might not be the first name most buyers think of when drawing up an EV shortlist, but, as Richard Gooding discovers, it deserves to be considered among the more obvious options More than a handful of models now offer emissions-free motoring in the UK, some more high-profile than others. Cars like the BMW i3 (GreenFleet, issue 71) and Volkswagen e-Golf (GreenFleet, issue 76) come from large manufacturers who would be expected to enter the EV arena, but not all electric cars originate from such conspicuous beginnings.

Enter the Kia Soul EV – a fully-fledged electric car from a company who would probably not be on most drivers’ minds if they were looking to choose a zero-emissions vehicle. Among the ubiquitous Leafs and mild-hybrid Priuses, the all-electric Soul looks distinctive and promises a class-leading range of 132 miles. As EV technology (and therefore the benefits it offers) marches on, we spent a week in one to see if the newest EV correlates to being one of the best.

81.4kw electric motor, 27kWh lithium-ion battery pack The Soul is South Korean company Kia’s small ’SUV’-style car, and the all-electric version takes the spacious five-door hatchback as a starting point. Instead of a conventional engine, up front is an 81.4kW (equivalent to 109bhp) electric motor, with a 27kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack mounted under the seats. Located in a special casing to protect them from potential road damage, ease of maintenance has partly determined the batteries’ location.

They are the products of a Kia/SK innovation three-year development programme and Kia states that they have a greater energy density than those in any of the Soul EV’s competitors. The company also says that they benefit from a heating and cooling system which keeps them at the idea operating range, to extend the car’s range.

The range – traditionally the most talked about feature of an EV. Kia claims that the Soul EV is capable of travelling, and has been homologated for, 132 miles on a single charge. We spent seven days with the Soul EV during a spell of particularly hot and humid weather, but could only encourage the range indicator to display around 93 miles of distance.

However, in conjunction with neutral green car and environmentally-motoring experts Next Green Car, an independent test showed that 125 miles can be driven emission-free in the Soul EV. The potential for a further nine was due to battery having 13 per cent of its charge left. Kia states that the test mirrored real-life conditions from inclement weather and cool temperatures, to heavy levels of traffic and tough gradients.

Effective regenerative braking system While we couldn’t match the results of Kia and Next Green Car’s test, we can confirm that the Soul EV is one of the longest-range EVs we’ve tested, due in part to its easy and effective regenerative braking system which captures the kinetic energy usually dissipated as heat. Two driving modes – ‘Drive’ and ‘Brake’ – allow for adjustment of the regenerative braking level which in turn varies the amount of energy charging the batteries.

We ran the car mostly in ‘Brake’ mode, which allows for more severe braking of the car itself and therefore greater energy reflowed back into the batteries. Unlike Volkswagen’s three-stage system, there is only one setting. It’s so effective, though, the question of if further levels were needed was never asked. By driving particularly with an EV mindset, we gained an average of around 9.4 miles of range per journey, 103.5 miles in total over our 355-mile test.

To help maximise the range further, an ‘Eco’ mode pares back some functions and operates the car even more economically. Cleverly, a ‘Driver Only’ setting for the ventilation and "

The l EV Kia Sou edged y-fl is a full istinctive and d vehicle electric romises which p iles of 132 m e rang

Interior is well-equipped and comfortable

52

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net

Road Test

Kia Soul EV ENGINE:

27kW AC electric motor

ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION: CO2: RANGE VED: BIK: PRICE (OTR):

147 Wh/km 0g/km 132 miles Band A, £0 5% £24,995 (including VAT, after government PiCG grant)

Down load th Green e F app.g leet app at reenfl eet.n for mo et re ima ge conten s and t

The Kia Soul EV’s individual design, ease of use and high level of build quality are all big selling points and mean it should be at the top of any potential EV buyer’s shopping list Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

53

Road Test

Charging the Soul EV takes between 33 minutes and 13 hours depending on charger

The Kia Soul EV’s looks divide opinion, but boldy stand out

An 81.4kW electric motor is mated to a 27kWh lithium-ion polymer battery pack

# air-conditioning system saves more energy, allowing air to be solely directed to the driver’s side of the car. That’s just one well-thought out touch. Others include a Virtual Engine Sound and a heat pump which recycles air that has already been heated or cooled within the cabin.

Part of the intelligent Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system, it only draws enough fresh air into the interior to maintain the driver’s set temperature.

Once again, it’s more energy-saving at work and while the climate and charging timing/set-time function is nothing new on electric vehicles, it’s another function which, potentially, allows for more range.

Once that range has been depleted, though, there are myriad charging options.

Myriad charging options A 10-13-hour charging cycle can be expected on a domestic 230V/10A electricity supply.

That time is reduced to 4.5 hours with a 230V/6.6kW supply, while 50kW rapid chargers can boost the all-electric Kia back to 80 per cent in 33 minutes. Each new Soul EV is supplied with a wallbox. Charging sockets are located behind a flap at the front of the car where the grille usually sits on the conventionally-engined Soul.

The Kia Soul EV is simple to drive. Press the ‘Power’ button to turn the car on, select a

54

gear and you’re away.

As with most EVs, a faint whine lets you know the car is on the move. Non-EV drivers should acclimatise easily.

Performance is brisk from standstill, with 211b ft (280Nm) of torque available to 2,730rpm.

Maximum speed is 90mph, while 0-60mph is reached in 10.8 seconds. Refinement levels are impressive. Road noise from the 205/60R 16 ultra-low rolling resistance tyres has been kept to an absolute minimum and the car is so peaceful on the move, you arrive at your destination relaxed and calm.

The driving position is one of the best we’ve encountered in any car, while the ‘Flex Steer’ power steering system has three modes: ‘Normal’, ‘Comfort’ and ‘Sport’. The interior has lots of gloss white detailing, while the leather on the door trims and instrument binnacle add a luxurious touch. Grey ‘Eco’ cloth with blue stitching contacts nicely with the two ‘Caribbean Blue’ or ‘Titanium Silver’ exterior colours.

Ahead of the driver, a 3.5-inch screen imparts driver energy efficiency information as well as energy flow, battery level, charging time and selected consumable settings.

An eight-inch touchscreen system in the centre console controls all the media and navigation options and usefully shows more EV displays including drivable range maps, battery level, as well as charging point locations.

Two dials show speed as well as battery charge/power levels and it’s always a game

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net

trying to keep the bar indicators in the ‘Eco’ or ‘Charge’ sections. Kit highlights include iPod and Bluetooth connectivity, DAB radio, heated front seats and steering wheel, a reversing camera and parking sensor system, cruise control and speed limiter, privacy glass, LED daytime running lights, and automatic lighting controls.

Although the all-electric Soul loses a little of the combustion-engined car’s boot space due to the battery pack, practicality is still good. There are 281 litres of boot space when the rear seats are in place and 891 litres when folded.

Individual design Kia has priced the Soul EV at £24,995 once the £5,000 government Plug-in Car Grant has been taken into account. It’s a sizeable amount more when compared to cars like the Volkswagen e-Up and Renault Zoe, but they are both smaller and less practical. The Volkswagen e-Golf is more comparable in size but costs more (plus an extra £830 for a heat pump), as does the BMW i3. Both also have a smaller range. The fact that Kia includes its standard 100,000-mile/ 7-year warranty is a bold move, too. By choosing to market the Soul EV as a one-level high-specification model, Kia runs the risk of comparison with the more premium EV players. However, its individual design, ease of use and high level of build quality are all big selling points and mean it should be at the top of a potential EV buyer’s shopping list.

It may not offer any huge leaps forward in technology, but it is a simple to use and very likeable electric car that deserves to succeed. !

Kia ed has pricl EV the Sou5 once 99 at £24, ernment’s the govPlug-in Car £5,000t has been Gran ucted ded

FURTHER INFORMATION www.kia.co.uk

Event Review

Digital transformation Frost & Sullivan’s 2015 conference on Intelligent Mobility gathered over 330 global senior executives to discuss the shifts in mobility towards ‘Asset light, Technology heavy’ solutions Technology innovation is transforming mobility, turning it into an ‘Asset light, Technology heavy’ industry. Connectivity and the smartphone facilitate unlimited opportunities for new business models and revolutionise the way the mobility industry envisions its future. New business models and trends in mobility, corporate mobility, integrated transport solutions as well as connected and autonomous vehicles were extensively presented and discussed by over 330 senior industry executives during Frost & Sullivan’s annual industry event ‘Intelligent Mobility’ on 1 and 2 July 2015 at the Royal Garden Hotel in Kensington, London.

ring fencing the pot of money they would normally spend on owning a car and applying this pot to individual journeys.”

With the number of business travellers in and out of Europe set to double by 2030, according to Amadeus IT Group, corporate travel also needs to focus on the development of new business models. New market entrants, such as Uber, and new concepts, such as the sharing economy, are causing disruption in the market. The industry focus is therefore shifting to door-to-door solutions, with corporate car sharing taking a promising lead.

Graeme Bannister, Consulting Director at Frost & Sullivan, outlined:“The corporate mobility market place is a Trillion-dollar opportunity. By 2020, the corporate carsharing market will have 85,000 vehicles.”

Another top theme at the Intelligent Mobility conference was the digital transformation, the emergence of connected and autonomous vehicles and their impact on the motor insurance industry. With increasing autonomy of cars, the insurance liability is most likely to shift to the car manufacturers.

According to Frost & Sullivan, the motor insurance market in Europe is expected to decrease by a CAGR of 3.88 per cent over the next 35 years, and the question insurers are trying to find an answer to is, who is to blame in the event of an accident?

A key takeaway on autonomous driving however, was the fact, that ‘the technology

New s busines nd a models obility, nm trends i d transport te integra ons vehicles soluti xtensively were e ted and presen ssed discu

New partnerships One of the key discussion points revolved around the increasing competition in the mobility landscape.

Sarwant Singh, Frost & Sullivan’s Senior Partner and Global Practice Director, said: “We are starting to see new partnerships form, which centre around mobility. Avis acquiring Zipcar, Daimler’s ownership of moovel and BMW’s Drive Now are good examples of car manufacturers moving into the mobility space by offering a carsharing scheme to customers, whether they own a car of that brand or not.”

Even though this might look at first, as if the auto makers are cannibalising their own market, it actually gives them access to a larger and more diverse customer base in the future. At the same time, the customer’s view is shifting away from ‘ownership’ to ‘mobility’.

Singh continued: “People are psychologically

is there, it’s the programming that still needs to be addressed,’ summarised Singh.

The conference also included a keynote speech on the increasing influence and affluence of women and the impact that has on the automotive industry. Frost & Sullivan Principal Consultant, Olivia Price-Walker, presented findings from a customer research study, outlining facts, features and attributes surrounding women in the industry.

The number of female driving licence holders has overtaken the number of male licence holders in the US and is reaching parity in other countries. While safety, safety features and the driveability of the vehicle are areas which women are highly satisfied with, eco-friendliness, warranty length, and 360 visibility are areas of female customers’ discontent and therefore represent key areas for OEMs to focus on.

Regulatory change The conference was attended by participants from a broad spectrum of industries, not only vehicle manufacturers, but also car rental, leasing, finance, public transport, technology companies as well as public sector executives. The attendance of the latter has also made clear, that the mobility sector is about to reach the limits of what can be done without regulatory change.

The two-day event was initiated by a debate at the House of Lords at Westminster Parliament and the 2015 Intelligent Mobility Excellence in Best Practices Awards Banquet held on 1 July also at the Royal Garden in Kensington, London. !

FURTHER INFORMATION www.frost.com

Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

55

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Emergency Vehicles

A display of flashing blue and amber lights The Emergency Fleet Exhibition took place this June and allowed fleet managers from the police, fire and ambulance services to view the latest vehicles and equipment, as well as debate the topics that matter at the National Association of Police Fleet Managers’ conference The 42nd NAPFM conference and Emergency Fleet Exhibition took place on 9 and 10 June at the International Centre in Telford.

Not just a police fleet event, it showcased vehicles and equipment for all the emergency sectors, including ambulance, fire and rescue.

It also attracted exhibitors and visitors from the other emergency services, local authorities and some government departments.

Ten of the major vehicle manufacturers – of which eight have been awarded the CCS/ NAPFM Framework Blue Light lots 7, 8 & 9 – showcased current and future vehicles.

The delegate programme featured a broad spectrum of speakers discussing current topics such as collaboration, national road policing and vehicle disposal. Taking up the green agenda, Paul Gambrel from the Energy Saving Trust spoke about running a low carbon and cost effective fleet.

What’s more, a spokesperson from the Home Office gave an update on the emergency services mobile communications programme (ESMCP).

Vehicles Škoda showcased its Fabia (1.4 SE TDI 90PS) as a fully liveried police car at the event. This was the first glimpse of Fabia in police livery since Škoda was reappointed as an approved Crown Commercial Services supplier. The new framework now includes ‘Lot 7’ emergency service vehicles.

Speaking at the NAPFM Conference, Škoda emergency services technical sales manager, Steven Cowell, said: “The Škoda Fabia is a reliable, robust and affordable vehicle loaded with technology, therefore ideal for use in the emergency services.

The size and versatility of the Fabia also lends itself well to inner city duty.”

The Vauxhall Special Vehicles team debuted its new generation emergency service Corsa, as well as its full range of bluelight vehicles.

Peugeot showcased its range of adapted police vehicles, including the 208, 380 and 2008 beat cars, as well as its Expert Cell van.

Mitsubishi presented its range of specialist 4x4 vehicles, including the Shogun and L200 Pick-up, as well as the Outlander PHEV, which made its police show preview. Using both electric and petrol power, the Outlander PHEV has an electric range of 32 miles, emits just 44g of CO2 per kilometre, and claims combined fuel consumption figure of 148 miles per gallon.

Ford displayed for the first time its new Transit PSU, all new Mondeo Dog, new Ford Focus ST diesel & turnkey

Škoda showcased the new Fabia SE TDI 90PS and has been named as a Crown Commercial Services supplier

model, as well as the Tourneo Connect Rural Cell and Transit Custom Cell Van. Hyundai showcased its new i20, i30, i40, i10, 1x35, Santa Fe, i800 and iload, while Volkswagen, Volvo, Honda, Jaguar Landrover, Fiat Professional, BMW and Yamaha also showcased their blue and amber light vehicles and bikes. Other companies serving the emergency services also exhibited on the day.

The National Association of Police Fleet Managers (NAPFM) was formed in April 1986 after receiving approval from the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in February of the same year. The formation arose from an Annual Police Fleet Engineers Seminar that had already been running for thirteen years in Wiltshire.

NAPFM membership covers all UK police forces and some enforcement agencies from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland along with non-Home Office Forces such as British Transport Police and Ministry of Defence as well as the UK Border Agency, H.M. Prison Service, Hong Kong Police and the Garda Siochana in Ireland.

In partnership with the Home Office Commercial Directorate, the NAPFM produces National Framework Procurement Contracts for such things as vehicles and vehicle parts, tyres, fuel, oil, glass, vehicle audible and visual warning, as well as vehicle disposal and ‘end of life’ disposal. These frameworks have delivered multi-million pound savings to the police service, and many of the contracts are now available to the other emergency services. As the government seeks to make framework contracts pan-government, different groups are starting to lead in specific areas of procurement.

The NAPFM is currently working with the ACPO Vehicle Standardisation Group to standardise the role of vehicles within the UK police service. This dovetails with the collaborative work being undertaken with the ACPO Intelligent Transport System (ITS) Group. This group is developing a Single Vehicle Architecture ‘One Box’ system for vehicles as well the Driver and Vehicle Data Management System.

Event history In 1973 the Wiltshire Constabulary hosted a Police Fleet Engineers Seminar at Police Headquarters in Devizes. This was to become an annual event which is still hosted and run by Wiltshire. Gradually the event grew from just a seminar to include a small exhibition. The original ethos of collaboration to improve standards and save money for public sector is as important today as it was four decades ago.

With the formation of the NAPFM the event changed its name to the NAPFM Conference & Exhibition. The NAPFM Event is widely acknowledged to be one of the best emergency service transport events in Europe, attracting a wide range of both national and international delegates. With the participation of all the emergency services, enforcement agencies, various government departments and the military, the NAPFM Conference and Exhibition is one event that is firmly in the diary for those involved with public sector fleets. !

FURTHER INFORMATION www.napfmevent.org.uk

Volume 86 | GREENFLEET MAGAZINE

57

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Jaama 15 Amber Business Village, Amber Close Amington, Tamworth B77 4RP Tel: 0844 8484 333 enquiries@jaama.co.uk www.jaama.com Jaama’s multi award-winning Key2 Vehicle Management system is a totally integrated vehicle, asset and driver management solution visibly years ahead. Designed for all fleet sizes and budgets, Key2 is web based, with usability and intelligent ‘active’ data management; linking users live to data providers, customers, suppliers, vehicle telematics and the DVLA.

CAR AND VAN RENTAL

Green Motion 2 Redman Court, Bell Street, Princes Risborough, Bucks, HP27 0AA Tel: 01844 222333 reservations@greenmotion.co.uk www.greenmotion.co.uk Green Motion is the UK’s leading provider of low CO2 vehicle hire. Through our national network, we offer both leisure and business customers the opportunity to enjoy great value vehicle rental, while helping to reduce the impact of global CO2 emissions associated with road travel. Providing reporting and advice to management and staff, Green Motion can highlight savings in cost and impact on the environment.

HYDROGEN VEHICLES

ULEMCo Ulemco Ltd The Quay, 12 Princes Pararde, Liverpool, Merseyside, L3 1BG Tel: 1928 787179 info@ulemco.com / www.ulemco.com ULEMCo Ltd offer services to convert light commercial vehicles to run on hydrogen.

Services include the supply & installation of a safely engineered retrofit, warranty and VSO certificate. H2ICED™ vans, have verified emissions at 59g/km CO2. Advice, consultancy and the supply of hydrogen refuelling capability can also be provided.

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Jaama 15 Amber Business Village, Amber Close Amington, Tamworth B77 4RP Tel: 0844 8484 333 enquiries@jaama.co.uk www.jaama.com Licence2Check is a web-based electronic driver licence checking service with the DVLA. Batch licence check requests will be sent automatically depending upon the risk profile of the driver. Licence2Check is a simple, effective tool to help you meet your Duty of Care responsibility and obligations under the Health and Safety Executive guidelines.

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Admin Business Solutions Allstar Fuel Cards Citroen UK DAF Trucks EDF Energy Fiat Ford Frost & Sullivan Fuel Card Services Honda Jeep Kumho Tyre (UK) Lex Autolease Licence Check Mitsubishi NAPFM Peugeot Rolec Services Seat Shell UK Smart Witness TomTom Telematics Sales Toyota Ullemco Vauxhall

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT | www.greenfleet.net

36 44 IFC, 6, 7 22 28 8 18 55 45 29 24 38 IBC 42 16, 17 57 10 40 30 46, 47 34 32 OBC 40 4

SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Has there ever been a better time to switch to electric vehicles?

58%

20%

300% growth in UK plug-in hybrid cars in 2014

growth in alternatively fuelled vehicles in 2014

73%

of fleet managers rate environmental impact as a big issue

fall in CO2 emissions in 4 years on the Lex Autolease fleet

45%

of fleet managers have introduced a more environmentally-focussed fleet policy

0344 824 0115 enquiries@lexautolease.co.uk lexautolease.co.uk

MY NAME IS PAUL AND I’M A

QUITTER Set to save over £500,000* and improve UK air quality by quitting a conventional fleet.

By choosing petrol full hybrids over equivalent diesel models, Paul will save his company over half a million pounds in three years. Reduced BIK tax bills mean company car drivers will be on average £5,000 better off. Paul’s also said goodbye to a conventional fleet, improving the air we all breathe.

Read Paul’s story at: brilliantforbusiness.co.uk/paul

Paul James, Facilities Manager, Slimming World.

brilliant for business

*Saving based on switching existing Honda fleet to Lexus hybrids.